The Russian military says Syrian air defense units managed to intercept and bring down most of the missiles launched by Israeli military aircraft at various targets in the Arab country’s central province of Homs, destroying ten out of the 12 projectiles.
“On November 24, six F-16 tactical fighter jets of the Israeli Air Force fired twelve guided missiles from the Lebanese airspace at targets in Syria’s Homs province,” Rear Admiral Vadim Kulit, deputy head of Russia’s Reconciliation Center for Syria, told reporters.
He noted that Russian-made Buk-M2E and Pantsir-S surface-to-air missile systems, which are in service with the Syrian Armed Forces, could destroy ten missiles at the time.
“As a result of the Israeli airstrike, minor material damage was caused and one Syrian serviceman was also wounded,” Kulit said.
Syria’s official news agency, citing a military source, reported that Israeli aircraft fired several missiles from the direction of northeastern Beirut at some targets in Homs at about 1:26 a.m. local time on Wednesday (2326 GMT Tuesday), but Syrian air defenses intercepted and destroyed most of the projectiles.
The source added that two civilians lost their lives in the latest aggression by the occupying Israeli regime, while a civilian sustained serious injuries and six government soldiers were also wounded. The airstrike resulted in “some material losses” as well.
Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups that are wreaking havoc in the country.
Israel frequently targets military positions inside Syria, especially those of the resistance movement Hezbollah which has played a key role in helping the Syrian army in its fight against the foreign-backed terrorists.
The Tel Aviv regime mostly keeps quiet about its attacks on Syrian territories which many view as knee-jerk reaction to Syrian government’s increasing success in confronting terrorism.
Israel has been a main supporter of terrorist groups that have opposed the government of President Bashar al-Assad since foreign-backed militancy erupted in Syria.