Israel strikes Hezbollah, Syrian army near Damascus

The Israeli Air Force attacked Hezbollah and Syrian army positions near the capital Damascus, injuring two Syrian soldiers.

"At around 10:05 p.m., Israel launched an airstrike from the direction of the Golan Heights targeting several positions in the suburbs of the capital Damascus," Syrian news agency SANA reported on December 17, citing a statement from the country's military.

SANA said Syrian air defenses shot down several Israeli missiles. The airstrikes injured two Syrian soldiers and caused some material damage.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said Israeli jets struck "air defense batteries of the Syrian government forces and Hezbollah positions" south of the capital Damascus.

Israel strikes Hezbollah, Syrian army near Damascus — Syrian air defenses shot down Israeli missiles on December 17. Video: *SANA*

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has not commented on the information. Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes against targets in Syria over the past decade, but rarely confirms or releases details.

Israel considers Iran-backed forces in Syria, including Hezbollah, to be "enemies" and has vowed to do everything possible to prevent Tehran from increasing its influence in the region. Since 2015, Hezbollah in Lebanon has deployed a large force to Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad's government in dealing with rebel groups.

Following the October 7 Hamas attack, Israel significantly increased the frequency of its attacks on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon and Syria. Two Hezbollah members and two Syrian soldiers working with the group were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the outskirts of Damascus on December 10.