BEIRUT (AP) – Israeli jets flew very low over parts of Lebanon early Friday, terrifying residents on Christmas Eve, some of whom reported seeing missiles in the sky over Beirut.
Minutes later, Syria’s official news agency reported explosions in the central Syrian city of Masyaf. Syrian other media said border air defenses responded to the Israeli attack near a town in Hama province.
The Syrian Defense Ministry said in a statement that Israel “launched a rocket attack” from the Lebanese city of Tripoli north of the Masyaf region. He said the Syrian air defense “encounters enemy missiles and intercepts most of them.”
No immediate word was found on what the target was or what casualties were reported.
Israeli jets regularly violate Lebanese airspace and often strike inside Syria from Lebanese territory. But flights on Christmas Eve were heavier than usual, frightening Beirut residents who have endured several crises in the past year, including a catastrophic blast at the city’s port on Gust 4 that killed 200 people and destroyed parts of the capital. That explosion was the result of an explosion of a stockpile of ammonium nitrates that was improperly stored in the facility.
There was no immediate word from Israel on Friday’s flights or alleged attacks on Syria.
Over the past few years, Israel has admitted to carrying out dozens of airstrikes in Syria, most of which are believed to be aimed at Iranian arms shipments bound to Hezbollah. In recent months, Israeli officials have expressed concern that Hezbollah is trying to set up a production facility to build precision-guided missiles.
Masyaf is an important military base for the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, including a military academy and a scientific research center. Israel has targeted it several times in the past.
