Three killed in Israeli airstrike in Syria

March 12 () –

At least three people have been killed in a missile attack by Israeli warplanes on the Syrian provinces of Tartus and Hama, the Syria-based Russian Center for Reconciliation has reported.

“On March 12 (…) two F-16 tactical fighters of the Israeli Air Force launched a missile attack from northern Lebanon that damaged buildings of research centers in the towns of Masyaf and Safsafa,” explained the deputy commander of the Russian center, Oleg Gurinov, in statements to Russian media.

Gurinov explained that the Syrian authorities have confirmed the death of three people in this attack. The official Syrian media have confirmed the attack, but only reported three wounded soldiers.

They also point out that the anti-aircraft defenses have shot down several Israeli missiles. “Around 7.15 this morning the Israeli enemy has perpetrated an air attack with bursts of missiles launched from northern Lebanon against points in Tartous and Hama,” the official news agency SANA reported, citing a military source.

“Our anti-aircraft defenses have intercepted several of the aggressor’s missiles and shot down some of them,” added this source, who has confirmed “three wounded soldiers and material damage.”

The Israeli press has echoed these data and has recalled that Israel does not confirm this type of attack that it justifies for security reasons. It has also turned out that it is rare for these attacks to occur during the day.

One of the areas attacked is Masyaf, where pro-Iranian forces are believed to have a base and which has been repeatedly attacked in recent years in actions attributed to Israel.