Fresh Israel missile attack reportedly targets Iran base in Syria

Authorities had told occupants of the Golan Heights to prepare bomb shelters in anticipation of revenge attacks

This photo released on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows flames rising after an attack in an area known to have numerous Syrian army military bases, in Kisweh, south of Damascus, Syria. Syrian state-run media said Israel struck a military outpost near the capital Damascus on Tuesday, saying its air defenses intercepted and destroyed two of the incoming missiles. The reported attack came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he was withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal, calling Tehran a main exporter of terrorism in the region. (SANA via AP)

Flames rising after an attack in an area known to have numerous Syrian army military bases, in Kisweh, south of Damascus, Syria on May 9. SANA via AP

Joyce Karam

May 09, 2018

The Syrian government accused Israel on Tuesday of launching fresh missile strikes on an army base in the Al Kaswa area near Damascus, while Western sources indicated that the attack targeted an Iranian military base in Syria.

Following reports on social media in Syria at around 10pm local time of explosions in Al Kaswa, the country’s official news agency later confirmed the attack. It said that Syrian air defenses “blocked two Israeli missiles and is destroying them in the area of Al Kaswa in Damascus suburbs.” Another Syrian military source said the attack targeted a Syrian army base without incurring casualties.

Fox News, however, quoting Western sources said an Iranian military base in Syria was the target of the attack.

“Western military sources said the military compound that was hit is located about 10 miles south of the Syrian capital city of Damascus,” it reported.

Videos showing a big fire ball circulated on social media after the attack:

#Syria Video of Missile Strikes tonight presumably carried by Israel in Kaswa near Damascus: pic.twitter.com/lMI0C5D3GJ
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) May 8, 2018

While Israel did not confirm or deny the strikes, a state of alert was reported by its armed forces near the Syrian border. Reuters said the Israeli military “has instructed local authorities in the Israeli-held Golan Heights to "unlock and ready (bomb) shelter" after identifying what the military described on Tuesday as "irregular activity of Iranian forces in Syria". It also said that the Israeli forces are on high alert.

In Washington, CNN reported on Tuesday that US defence officials are seeing signs that Iran is preparing to strike Israel, possibly from Syria.

CNN’s @barbarastarrcnn reports that Pentagon officials say they are seeing signs that Iran is preparing to strike Israel, perhaps from Syria.
— Liz Sly (@LizSly) May 8, 2018

Over the last five weeks, Israel has reportedly carried out at least three rounds of strikes against Iran’s military presence in Syria. Iran blamed Israel for an April 9 strike that killed seven of its fighters and promised retaliation. On April 29, Israel was suspected of more strikes in Hama and Aleppo, reportedly killing at least 18 pro-Iranian fighters.