At least two blasts were heard in Syria’s capital city on Monday afternoon. An Israeli air raid on Damascus left one Syrian soldier wounded, state media reported, describing a rare daytime strike. Hamas and Damascus agreed to turn the page on the past after a historic summit
One soldier was injured after Israeli airstrikes on Damascus, Syrian state media reported, describing a rare daytime attack following a string of bombings on the capital and other cities in recent weeks.
Syria’s air defenses activated to repel the attack at around 2pm local time on Monday, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), which cited an unnamed military official.
“The Israeli enemy carried out an air aggression with rockets from the north of the occupied Palestinian territories, targeting some points in the vicinity of the city of Damascus,” the source said, adding that “a number” of missiles were shot down but that the attack “resulted in the injury of a soldier and some material losses.”
A local media outlet shared a photo purporting to show the attack in progress, with smoke trails seen as air defense munitions confronted incoming missiles.
📸 صورة …. الدفاعات الجوية السورية تتصدى لعدوان “إسرائيلي” في سماء دمشق وتدمر صواريخ معادية
🔆 https://t.co/3NgG8DxjF3 🔆 pic.twitter.com/Idr9n6vs07
— شمس نيوز SHMS NEWS (@shmsnews) October 24, 2022
Though such strikes are rarely conducted during the daytime, Israeli warplanes have repeatedly bombed targets inside Syria over the country’s decade-long struggle against jihadist rebels, with former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once acknowledging “hundreds” of strikes over the years. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not confirm Monday’s reported attack, and typically refrain from commenting despite continued allegations by Damascus.
State media reported a similar air raid last Friday, citing a military official who said a barrage of Israeli rockets targeted sites in the capital. They added that most were shot down, but said the attack caused some “material” damage.
Another recent attack pinned on Israel left five Syrian soldiers dead, while the IDF has bombed both the Damascus and Aleppo international airports on more than one occasion since the summer. Read More
Couple of days earlier Syrian air defenses repel yet another wave of Israeli airstrikes on Damascus
On 21 October, Israeli jet fighters launched a new round of airstrikes on the surroundings of the Syrian capital Damascus, as state media says no casualties were reported.
The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reports that Syrian military air defense systems downed most of the incoming hostile missiles, as the aftermath losses were limited to materials.
“Approximately at 11:03pm, the Israeli enemy carried out a missile aggression from the direction of Tiberias lake, targeting some points in the vicinity of Damascus, as the Syrian air defense repelled the aggression missile and downed most of them,” a military source told SANA in a statement.
While there has been no official comment from Tel Aviv, the Israeli Sham FM radio station said the attacks were “close” to Damascus International Airport south of the capital.
Last month, five Syrian soldiers were killed in an Israeli missile attack near Damascus airport. Israeli raids in June also caused Damascus and Aleppo airports to be out of service for about two weeks.
The newest round of Israeli airstrikes in Syria come at a time of escalating tensions between Tel Aviv and Moscow.
After Russia started allegedly using Iranian drones to target Ukraine, Israel has been under pressure from Kiev to provide it with its Iron Dome missile defense systems. However, occupation officials refused to comply in order to avoid sparking a crisis with the Kremlin.
Nonetheless, Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz this week said his country might supply Kiev with early warning systems, asking the Ukrainians to provide the country with information on its needs for air defense systems.
During the past several years, Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes inside Syria, targeting Syrian army positions and alleged Hezbollah and Iranian militias.
Israel rarely confirms being behind these attacks, but often reiterates that it will continue to confront what it describes as “Iran’s attempts to establish its military presence” near the borders of occupied Palestine.”
Friday’s bombing of Damascus coincided with the announcement of the Palestinian Hamas movement to resume relations with Syria after a landmark meeting with President Bashar al-Assad, Read More
Syria Offers Support For Palestinian Resistance
Hamas and Damascus agreed to turn the page on the past after a historic summit
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received a delegation of representatives of the Palestinian resistance factions on 19 October, among them an official from the Hamas movement in Damascus.
Khalil al-Hayya, the deputy leader of the Hamas movement in Gaza, said the meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was “warm” as he expressed his determination to provide all of Syria’s support to the Palestinian people and their resistance.
A day prior, Hamas confirmed that a delegation from the movement’s leadership would arrive in Damascus on 18 October for an official visit for the first time in ten years.
The visit comes after private negotiations were held between Hamas and the Syrian leadership, mediated by Hezbollah, which discussed why the movement left Damascus in 2012.
While meeting with President Assad, the Palestinian official said the visit is a shred of evidence that the spirit of the resistance is renewed, addressing a letter of challenge to the Israeli occupation that “the gathering is a response to its projects.”
“The meeting with Al-Assad is a glorious day, and from now on, we will resume our presence in Damascus to work alongside the Syrian people to regain the country’s stability,” Hayya added.
According to Hayya, the Palestinian factions’ representatives assured Assad that they stood with Syria and its territorial integrity against any aggression that targets it.
“We are removing any individual action that was not approved by the Hamas leadership, and we agreed with President Assad to turn the page on the past.” The deputy leader of the Hamas movement said.
Furthermore, the Palestinian official clarified that Hamas informed the countries it has relations with of its decision to restore ties with Syria, explaining that the decision was taken by Hamas alone.
He also praised Syria’s role in the region, stressing that the relationship with Damascus gives strength to the axis of resistance and all those who believe in it.
On 15 September, Hamas announced the mending of its ties with Syria, which has embraced the Palestinian people and its resistance factions for decades.
Hamas also issued a statement expressing its appreciation for Syria’s leadership and its position of standing by the Palestinian people in their struggle against Israel.
In 2008, Syria hosted several Hamas military commanders for drone and missile research and helped them upgrade their surveillance and combat drones.