Syrian air defenses shot down “most of” the incoming missiles that were reportedly launched by Israel from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights, in a new attack on the country’s territory, Syrian state media reported.
The Israeli military reportedly pummeled several areas in southern Syria with missiles shortly after midnight on Thursday local time, state news agency SANA reported, citing military officials.
Syria’s air defenses were scrambled to repel the attack and intercepted the majority of the missiles launched from the direction of the Golan Heights, the agency said.
“Our air defenses responded to an Israeli aggression that targeted some points in the southern region and shot down most of the hostile missiles,” a military source said.
However, the strike led to the death of one Syrian soldier and inflicted “material losses,” according to SANA.
Israel routinely bombards Syrian territory in largely overnight raids on the pretext of targeting Iranian positions. Earlier this month, the port near the city of Latakia was targeted in another suspected Israeli raid, which sparked a major fire at a portside storage area.
The attacks, which are rarely acknowledged by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), have led to multiple civilian casualties throughout the years. Just last month, at least two Syrian civilians were killed and six soldiers were injured in an alleged Israeli missile strike believed to be carried out from Lebanese airspace.