Israeli Airstrikes Kill Five Syrian Soldiers Near Damascus

Most missiles fired from Israel were intercepted

Overnight Thursday into Friday, Syrian officials say, Israel carried out a flurry of airstrikes against Syria, hitting areas around the capital of Damascus, killing three soldiers and wounding seven others. The death toll later rose to five.

Details are still coming in on what happened. Syrian state media reported that the missiles were fired over the Golan Heights, and that most of them were intercepted by air defenses.

Syrian media also reported damage caused in and around the strike, but did not clarify what was hit. Israel, as usual, did not offer any details either.

Russia, which has become increasingly critical of Israeli attacks, has yet to comment. Recent attacks have targeted coastal Syria near Russian facilities.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.