Israeli strikes early Monday hit a military outpost and weapons depot operated by Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah movement near the Syrian capital Damascus, a war monitor reported Monday.
“Sites operated by the Lebanese Hezbollah group… in the east Qalamoun region, northeast of Damascus, were hit by Israeli strikes at dawn,” the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The war monitor, which relies on sources inside Syria, said that the attack sparked fires “in military outposts and arms depots belonging to Hezbollah”.
Read more: Turkey warns Israel over forced eviction of Muslims in Jerusalem
The Observatory said there were believed to be casualties but it did not offer a toll.
Asked about Israeli strikes near Damascus, the Israeli army told AFP: “We do not comment on reports in the foreign media.”
Official Syrian state media said the attack caused only material damage, without elaborating on its intended target.
#Syria latest (AFP)
– #Israel strikes hit #Hezbollah positions near #Damascus, reports of casualties
– #Syria #Kurds say #Hasakeh prison free of jihadists after #ISIS attack — @rami_sohr says violence has left over 370 dead
– @cmoc_sdf presser todayhttps://t.co/wiZLt7dRiv— Hashem Osseiran (هاشم) (@HashemOsseiran) January 31, 2022
“At 3:05 am today, the Israeli enemy carried out an aerial assault with a volley of missiles… targeting some points on the outskirts of Damascus,” SANA news agency said.
“Our air defences responded to the attack and intercepted some” of the missiles, it added.
Israel rarely comments on the air strikes it carries out in Syria but has said repeatedly it will not allow its archfoe Iran to extend its footprint in Syria.
Read more: Israeli president accepts Abu Dhabi crown prince invitation to visit UAE
Since civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes on Syrian territory, targeting government positions as well as allied Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters.