Report: Israel conducts first strike on Syria under new defense minister

by WorldTribune Staff, June 8, 2016

Israeli warplanes struck a facility storing surface-to-air missiles near the Syrian city of Homs, a report said on June 7.

Israeli Air Force jets. /IDF photo
Israeli Air Force jets. /IDF photo

If confirmed, the Israeli Air Force mission would be the first carried out in Syria under new Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

According to Syrian website Zaman Al Wasl, which identifies with the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, the installation is a base for the Syrian army’s air defense division and is also the location of its air-defense training school.

Aside from the report by Zaman Al Wasl, no other sources in Syria or Arab media outlets reported on the event.

The report said that Israeli planes destroyed “a considerable number” of missiles and “caused a great deal of damage” at the base but also said the Israeli planes avoided targeting other air-defense systems located on the base.

Lieberman, who on June 7 visited the Israel Defense Forces GOC Northern Command headquarters, said: “Today I heard briefings about this area, which is always a sensitive area. I can say that our northern border is in good, secure hands.”

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