Israel strikes Iranian targets near Russian bases in Syria: Reports

Victor I. Nava

August 15, 02:37 AM August 15, 02:37 AM

Israeli fighter jets hit pro-Iranian targets in Syria on Sunday, with some of the targets located near Russia's main military bases in the country.

The attacks reportedly targeted sites in the city of Tartus, which is on Syria's Mediterranean coast, about 20 miles north of Lebanon's border, and sites near the Syrian capital of Damascus. Tartus is the home region of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Three Syrian soldiers were killed and three others were injured in the airstrikes, according to Syrian state media.

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The strikes near Damascus reportedly hit outposts run by Lebanon's pro-Iranian Hezbollah group, according to Reuters.

In the Tartous coastal region, Israeli jets reportedly bombed an Iranian base and nearby air defense and radar stations.

The port of Tartous is home to Russia's only navy base in the Mediterranean region, where Russian warships are currently docked, according to Reuters. The strikes where also near Russia's Hmeimim air base in the Latakia province.

The reported strikes come just days after Syrian media reported that Israeli tanks had targeted Hezbollah observation posts in Syria near the border with Israel.

Flyers were also reportedly dropped over Syria on Friday warning the Syrian military against cooperating with Hezbollah and Iranian militias in the region.

The last alleged Israeli airstrikes in Syria were in late July and reportedly targeted pro-Iranian elements near Damascus, killing five Syrian soldiers and seven members of Hezbollah and other Iran-backed militias, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Israel has reportedly mostly avoided targeting Syria's coastal provinces in past strikes due to Russia's military presence in area.

In May, Israel claimed its fighter jets came under Russian anti-aircraft fire over Syria but were not struck, describing the incident as a "one-off" confrontation.