Explosions South of Damascus; Israel on Alert in Golan Heights

The IDF said it has detected "irregular Iranian activity" in Syria and has told authorities in the Golan Heights to open and prepare bomb shelters. Syrian reports claim Israel targeted a military base south of the capital Damascus late Tuesday evening

Explosions South of Damascus; Israel on Alert in Golan Heights

Screenshot from a video published by the IDF

Syrian state media reported on Tuesday night that Israel conducted an airstrike south of Damascus, shortly after the IDF announced it believes Iran is planning to carry out an imminent strike from Syria.

Syria’s official SANA news outlet said that the country’s air defenses intercepted two Israeli missiles over the el-Kiswah area, south of Damascus. The report did not specify how many missiles were fired. A pro-Assad commander said Israeli fighter jets struck a Syria army position south of Damascus. Lebanese media reported that Israeli jets were flying sorties over the country’s southern coast.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli communities in the northern Golan Heights, near the Israel-Syria border, were instructed to open shelters to the public after identifying "unusual movements" of Iranian forces in Syria, the IDF said in a statement.

"The IDF has detected irregular Iranian activity in Syria and is preparing the civilian population on the Golan Heights accordingly, as well as defensive systems. Any aggression against Israel will be met with a severe response," Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus of the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said on Twitter.

Israeli media reported that some IDF units, including air defense, home front, and military intelligence branches, had been issued with call-up orders, just over an hour after the IDF issued a warning to residents of the north.

Furthermore, The IDF said it deployed missile defense batteries in northern Israel. A video released by the IDF showed soldiers setting up Iron Dome, Patriot, and Arrow missile defense systems.

CNN reported that Pentagon officials are concerned about signs that Iran might be preparing a military strike against Israel from Syria.

Israel believes Iran is determined to retaliate for the April 9 airstrike on Syria’s T4 airbase, which killed seven Iranian military advisers and members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Iran blames Israel for this attack.

 

[Sources: Haaretz, Times of Israel, i24 News]