Syria Reports Air Defenses Repelled Israeli Incursion Near Damascus

Syrian state media reported this weekend that air defenses were brought online to confront a “hostile target”which entered the country’s airspace from Lebanese territory. The indications are that this was an Israeli warplane.

Details are scant, but the state media said the plane “penetrated” Syrian airspace, and was confronted and repelled by air defenses. The report noted that this was the latest of several Israeli raids into Syrian airspace.

As usual, the Israeli government refused to confirm or deny the incident, saying they do not respond to reports that emerged in foreign press. This is common, as Israel rarely comments on its attacks in Syria, whether or not they hit anything.

It would be unusual, however, for Israel to allow itself to be repelled by Syrian air defenses, despite that nation having access to substantial such weaponry. In the past, Israel has responded to air defenses by escalating until they manage to hit the target intended.