Two civilians injured in Israeli airstrike – Syrian Army – RT World News

The Syrian Defense Ministry accused Israel of injuring two civilians in an airstrike on a village near the western port city of Tartous on Saturday.

The army said Israeli warplanes flying over northern Lebanon fired missiles at several chicken farms in the village of Hamidiyeh, south of Tartous. The attack occurred a few kilometers north of the border with Lebanon in the early morning.

According to Damascus, the shelling also caused damage to civilian infrastructure.

The Israeli military, in accordance with long-standing practice, declined to comment on the alleged strike.

The apparent attack took place hours before Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Syria for talks with key Syrian officials.

Israel has struck numerous targets in Syria in recent years in an effort to reduce the influence of arch-rival Iran. Tehran has been a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad. According to Wall Street Journal sources, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is coordinating its attacks on Syrian targets with the Pentagon and US Central Command.

Last month, an airstrike, allegedly by Israel, disabled Damascus International Airport. According to reports, the military targeted Iranian arms supplies, which the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had delivered to Syria using civilian aircraft.

Earlier, shelling had been reported from sites south of the Syrian capital and in the Quneitra region of southwestern Syria.

In mid-June, the Arabic news portal Elaph reported that Israel had sent a message to Assad, warning him against stepping up military cooperation with Iran. Otherwise, Israel has pledged to target one of the presidential palaces in Syria in its next raid, Elaph claimed.

Syrian authorities have protested the alleged IDF raids, saying they violate the country’s sovereignty and international law. Damascus also regards the American presence at the Al-Tanf base as an illegal occupation.