Israeli Airstrikes Target Syrian Air Defence in Tartus

Synopsis

Israel carried out airstrikes on a Syrian air defence battalion near Tartus, targeting military sites and responding to regional developments. No casualties were reported as assessments begin. Israeli officials confirm the strikes aimed at military resources linked to the Syrian regime.

Key Takeaways

Israel targeted a Syrian air defence battalion.
The airstrikes occurred near the coastal city of Tartus.
No casualties were reported after the attacks.
Israeli military confirmed the strikes as a response to regional tensions.
Warnings were issued to local residents before the strikes.

Damascus, March 4 (NationPress) Israel executed airstrikes aimed at a Syrian air defence battalion situated close to the western coastal city of Tartus, according to reports from Syrian state media and a war monitoring group.

The assaults occurred on Monday night on the outskirts of Tartus, with no immediate reports of injuries. Teams from the Syrian Civil Defence and military specialists were dispatched to evaluate the damage and pinpoint the specific locations of the strikes, as reported by Xinhua news agency citing Syria's state-operated SANA news agency.

A local television station indicated that the assault targeted an air defence battalion in Tartus. Concurrently, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring organization, reported a significant explosion at Tartus Port, which coincided with the presence of unidentified aircraft, suspected to be sent by Israel.

Before the assault, text messages were allegedly sent to locals warning them to "stay clear of areas housing terrorists."

Avichay Adraee, the spokesperson for the Israeli military, verified the attack, asserting that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had targeted a military site in Qardaha, a town near Tartus and the birthplace of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"The IDF focused on a military site utilized for storing weapons belonging to the overthrown Syrian regime," Adraee stated, adding that the strikes were a reaction to "recent developments in the region."

This incident marks the latest Israeli operation in Syria, where Israel has deployed ground forces and conducted airstrikes following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. Recently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has advocated for the demilitarization of southern Syria, despite Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's interim president, declaring that the new government seeks to avoid conflicts "with any country, including Israel."