Israeli Fighter Jets Strike Syrian Air Defense Battery in Retaliatory Response
Early Sunday morning, the Israeli military announced that its fighter jets had targeted a Syrian air defense battery in response to an anti-aircraft missile launched from the system earlier in the night. The missile had exploded in Israeli airspace, prompting the Israeli Air Force (IAF) to take action.
The incident occurred as the IAF allegedly carried out airstrikes near the city of Homs. Syria’s state news agency, SANA, reported that the IAF had targeted several sites, causing unspecified “material losses.” SANA also stated that Syrian air defenses responded to the “Israeli aggression.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the IAF jets had attacked the anti-aircraft battery responsible for the missile launch. The IDF also stated that additional targets in the area were hit during the operation.
Syrian authorities have not yet commented on the retaliatory strikes.
According to the IDF, the anti-aircraft missile launched from Syria exploded mid-air in Israeli airspace. However, the IDF did not acknowledge the alleged Israeli strikes near Homs that preceded the missile launch.
Shrapnel from the Syrian missile landed in the southern city of Rahat, causing slight damage to a building but no injuries. Police and IDF engineering specialists were deployed to the scene to remove the large pieces of shrapnel.
Residents of central and southern Israel reported hearing a large blast, and footage showed shrapnel from what appeared to be parts of a surface-to-air missile from a Russian-made S-200 system landing in Rahat. The city is located approximately 230 kilometers (142 miles) from Israel’s border with Syria and 415 kilometers (257 miles) from Homs.
No sirens were activated in Israel when the Syrian missile entered Israeli airspace. While it is uncommon, Syrian surface-to-air missiles fired at Israeli fighter jets have previously caused damage and triggered sirens as they entered Israeli airspace.
In previous incidents, sirens sounded in northern Israel and some West Bank settlements in February 2022 after a Syrian air defense missile exploded over the area, resulting in shrapnel raining down. Shrapnel from S-200 missiles also landed in Tel Aviv and the southern community of Ashalim in separate incidents in 2021.
In a similar case in 2019, a Syrian S-200 missile fired at an Israeli jet crashed in northern Cyprus, causing a large explosion and sparking a fire. In 2018, an IAF F-16 fighter jet crashed in northern Israel after being hit by shrapnel from a Syrian anti-aircraft missile, but both pilots survived.
Israel has frequently accused the Syrian military of indiscriminately firing large numbers of anti-aircraft missiles in response to Israeli strikes. While Israel’s military typically does not comment on specific strikes in Syria, it has acknowledged conducting hundreds of sorties against Iran-backed groups attempting to establish a presence in the country over the past decade.
The Israeli military has stated that it also targets arms shipments believed to be destined for these groups, particularly Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Additionally, Israeli airstrikes have repeatedly targeted Syrian air defense systems.
The most recent reported Israeli strike in Syria occurred on June 14 when an IAF airstrike near the capital Damascus resulted in a Syrian soldier being seriously injured.
How did the Israeli military determine that the exploded missile came from a Syrian air defense battery?
Of an exploded missile scattered across the ground. The Israeli military quickly determined that the missile came from a Syrian air defense battery and immediately launched a retaliatory response.
The Israeli Air Force targeted the specific Syrian air defense battery responsible for the missile launch. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that additional targets in the area were also hit during the operation. Syrian state news agency, SANA, reported that the Israeli strikes caused “material losses,” but did not give any further details.
The IDF stated that the anti-aircraft missile had exploded in Israeli airspace before the IAF took action. Shrapnel from the missile landed in the city of Rahat, causing slight damage to a building but no injuries. Police and IDF engineering specialists were dispatched to remove the larger pieces of shrapnel.
The Syrian authorities have yet to comment on the retaliatory strikes.
This incident marks another escalation between Israel and Syria, as tensions in the region continue to simmer. It is a reminder of the ongoing conflict and the potential for further violence in the area.
The Israeli Air Force’s swift response to the missile explosion in their airspace demonstrates their commitment to maintaining national security. Such preemptive actions send a clear message that any threats will not be tolerated, ensuring Israel’s continued safety.
The Israeli Air Force’s response was swift and proportional, taking necessary action to protect Israeli airspace. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges and tensions in the region that require constant vigilance.