Israeli Reports Say Airstrikes Destroyed Missile Factory in Central Syria

Arab World

December 27th, 11:29am

Damascus, London – Asharq Al-Awsat

Israel attacks targets in Syria from Lebanon's airspace. (Reuters)

Israeli satellite imagery analysis company ImageSat International has published footage of an Israeli airstrike on the Syrian Masyaf area, located in Hama’s western countryside. The company said Friday’s airstrikes destroyed four weapons production buildings “probably used for mixing and casting components of missile engines and warheads”. It also pointed out that "the aim of the attack is to weaken the production of missiles in Syria, which Damascus may be manufacturing for the Lebanese militia, Hezbollah.” The Israeli strikes on Masyaf have killed a number of Iran-backed fighters. The dead were all foreign paramilitaries fighting alongside President Bashar al-Assad's forces, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The missiles, which were fired from Lebanese airspace, hit positions held by Iran-backed militias in Masyaf, Observatory chief Rami Abdul Rahman said. Another target was a government-run research center, where surface-to-surface missiles are developed and stored, the UK-based watchdog said. Iranian experts are believed to work in the research center. The center has been hit several times by Israeli strikes in recent years. While Moscow, a key backer of the Assad regime, made no comment on the airstrikes, Damascus, however, denounced the attack. Locals in the Hama and Tartous governorates collected projectile fragments and shrapnel that fell from the sky after Syrian air defenses intercepted the missiles. According to some locals in the Safita district of the Tartous governorate, at least one missile fell on the village of Matabet. Syria's Foreign Ministry called on the United Nations Security Council to prevent more Israeli raids against it, condemning Tel Aviv's "unacceptable" attacks. The ministry described the attack as “a flagrant violation of the Security Council resolution 350 of 1974,” and said it was aimed at hindering the Syrian army’s campaign against foreign-backed “terrorists”.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2706426/israeli-reports-say-airstrikes-destroyed-missile-factory-central-syria