DAMASCUS, Syria — Israel fired several missiles towards Syrian military positions near the capital Damascus Monday, killing two civilians and causing material damage, Syria’s defense ministry said. It was the first Israeli attack inside Syria since Russia invaded Ukraine.
The defense ministry said in a statement that Israeli warplanes flying over neighboring Lebanon fired the missiles towards Syria, adding that Syrian air defenses shot down most of the missiles.
It gave no further details or say how the civilians were killed.
Israel did not comment on the attack and rarely acknowledges such operations. But it has launched hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of Syria during its past decade of civil war.
Israel relies on Russia for security coordination in Syria, where Russia has a strong military presence, forcing Israel’s prime minister search for middle ground between Russia and Ukraine. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has also assumed the unlikely role of mediator between Russia and Ukraine.
