Israeli bombings in the vicinity of Damascus and Israeli military exercises are surprising | DW Arabia News | Latest news and insights from around the world | DW



[ad_1]

Today, Monday (February 15, 2021), the Syrian army said its air defenses responded to an “Israeli aggression” in the sky over the capital, Damascus.

Syrian official media did not provide further details on the targets hit by the Israel Air Force. A statement from the Syrian army stated that Israeli military planes were flying over The Golan Heights To hit targets on the outskirts of the capital, he noted that the air defenses launched most of the rockets, but did not clarify whether the attack had resulted in deaths or injuries.

In turn, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Israeli raids targeted several Syrian army sites, including “the headquarters where weapons and missile depots belonging to the Iranians and militias loyal to them are located.” According to the Observatory, which is close to the opposition to the Assad regime, the raids resulted in the deaths of nine militants loyal to Iran of non-Syrian and Arab nationalities who are in Syria in support of regime forces. The observatory was unable to determine the nationalities of the dead.

A Syrian military defector said the bombing targeted a large military division in the city of Kiswa, some 14 km south of the capital, in a vast area that is witnessed by a large presence of armed factions backed by Iran. Residents living west of the Syrian capital Damascus told the German news agency DPA that “several violent explosions rocked the area.” Residents confirmed that “the fire from the explosions was seen from the area that was bombed north of the capital Damascus.”

The Israeli army has yet to comment on what the Syrian army has cursed, and an Israeli army spokeswoman said the army “does not comment on foreign reports.” Israel rarely confirms the implementation of attacks in Syria, but the Israeli army stated in its annual report that during the year 2020 it bombed around 50 A in Syria, without giving details about it.

Israeli military officials acknowledge carrying out attacks inside Syria aimed at ending Tehran’s strong military presence Over there. Israeli Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi said late last year that Israeli missile strikes had “slowed the entrenchment of Iran’s presence in Syria” by bombing more than 500 targets in 2020.

Iranian-backed armed factions control vast areas in eastern, southern, and northwestern Syria and many suburbs around Damascus. The factions also control the border areas between Lebanon and Syria.

Israel, which in the past two months has launched some of its biggest attacks so far inside Syria, has targeted the Syrian city of Albu Kamal, which controls the border checkpoint on the main road between Baghdad and Damascus.

“Amazing” Israeli drills

At the same time, the Israeli army announced today that its air force has begun “surprise training” on the northern border to improve its combat readiness. The army said Israel would witness an increase in air traffic during the training period, which lasts until Wednesday, and indicated that explosions could be heard in northern Israel.

He added that the training “simulates combat scenarios on the northern front, and will test all the elements in basic (air force) tasks, including maintaining air superiority, protecting the country’s sky, as well as attacking. and collect information “.

AFP / AJM (Reuters, dpa, AFP)



[ad_2]