Syrian state media blames Israel for airstrikes near Damascus

TOPSHOT - The silhouette of an Israeli soldier is outlined in the sky by a flare fired to search for a rocket that landed near Kibbutz Meitsar in the Israeli annexed Golan Heights, April 9, 2023. (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

Syria's state news agency said the Israeli military carried out airstrikes that targeted several posts near its capital, Damascus, the Associated Press reported.

The strikes reportedly caused material damage but no casualties. 

Syrian media cited an unnamed military officials who said that Syrian air defenses shot down most of the missiles before they hit their targets early Friday. 

The Israel Defense Forces have not confirmed the report.

In the weeks since the latest war between Israel and Hamas broke out, Syria reported Israeli airstrikes that hit the international airports in Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo, damaging their runways and putting them out of service.

Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of Syria in recent years, including attacks on the Damascus and Aleppo airports, but rarely acknowledges or discusses the operations.

U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria have weathered 59 attacks since Oct. 17 from Iran-backed terrorist groups in the region, the Pentagon has said.