The foreign ministry of the Assad government has accused Israel of aiding militant groups such as the Islamic State and Nusra Front.
The ministry called on the UN Security Council “to assume its responsibilities…to maintain international peace and security, to condemn and be held accountable for the blatant Israeli attacks, to take firm and immediate measures to prevent their recurrence and to oblige Israel to respect its resolutions, and to hold it accountable for its terrorism and crimes against the Syrian people.”
Monday’s airstrike targeted weapons depots that belong to Iranian-backed militia operating the area, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The war monitor said weapons depots were located inside military posts, the group said. There were no immediate reports of casualties and damage.
Airstrikes were followed by Tuesday’s rocket launches against Israel from Lebanon. Artillery shells hit the area of Wadi Hamul and Tel Armiz, leaving no casualties or damage. No nation, group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attacks. The Lebanese Armed Forces recorded Israel’s violation of Lebanon’s airspace via an “enemy reconnaissance aircraft” that flew over the southern town of Naqoura. State-run media further recorded smoke bombs near a shepherd in the Barakat al-Naqar locality outside the town of Shebaa and the firing of weapons in Syria’s Golan Heights.
The Israel Defense Forces has launched hundreds of strikes in Syria since the start of the civil war in 2011 in an attempt to counter-balance Iran and Hezbollah’s military presence in Syria. Iran-backed forces have been using Syria as an operation base and to transfer weapons to Hezbollah.
Throughout 2021, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) hit targets in Damascus, Hama and Latakia provinces.
