Israel bombardiert iranischen Militärstützpunkt in Syrien
Israel has sent a pointed signal to the Assad regime and Iran — and to the regime’s other essential ally Russia — with a missile strike on a military base near al-Qiswa, about 13 km (8 miles) southwest of Syria’s capital Damascus.
Unconfirmed claims said that Iranian and Iranian-led militiamen were among casualties of the strike, with assertions that five missiles. Syrian state media said its air defenses intercepted at least two Israeli missiles fired at a government “military position” in Damascus province, but that the attack still caused damage.
Syrian State media SANA said “the army’s air defense at midnight confronted an Israeli attack with ground-to-ground missiles” but admitted “material damage to the site”.
The base drew attention in November with publication of satellite photographs indicating that it was being built up to accommodate up to 500 troops. Claims circulated that Iran, which has been developing property in the area, was planning to put its units and foreign militias in the complex.