Israeli attack kills five in central Syria: State media

Israeli missiles have killed at least five people and injured 19 others in central Syria, state media outlets have reported, citing local sources.

The attack on Sunday also sparked a fire and caused material damage near the city of Masyaf, west of Hama, according to SANA, Syria’s official news agency.

An unidentified security official told SANA that Israel launched an “aerial aggression” from Lebanese airspace against several Syrian military instalments. The source added that Syrian air defences confronted and shot down some of the missiles.

Israeli jets have launched attacks against Syria from Lebanon, likely to avoid Syrian airspace – where multiple regional and international forces, including those of Russia and the United States – operate.

The director of the public hospital in Masyaf said the casualties were civilians, SANA reported.

Throughout Syria’s 13-year civil war, Israel has regularly carried out air raids in the country – mostly targeting Iran-linked sites.

But the Israeli military does not confirm or comment on its operations in Syria.

Sunday’s attack comes amid growing regional tensions, with Iranian officials still pledging to respond to the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July.

Iran, which maintains a military presence in Syria, had promised “harsh punishment” for Israel over the killing, but no Iranian attack has materialised more than 40 days after the assassination.