Syria claims to down ‘hostile target’ during airstrike near Damascus

Syria said late Thursday that its air defenses destroyed an unspecified enemy target during an attempted airstrike west of Damascus, as residents reported a series of loud explosions around the Syrian capital.

The statement, published in official state media Sana, said Syrian air defenses “engaged a hostile target and destroyed it,” but gave no further details.

The pro-government al-Masdar news service said that air defenses fired several missiles to fend off an attack near the el-Kisweh region and that it was not clear if the Syrian missiles were fired at an aircraft, drone or incoming rockets.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that a “missile attack hit regime and pro-regime forces positions west of Damascus” without being able to identify the side responsible.

Israel has been blamed for previous attacks on a suspected Iranian military base in the el-Kisweh area. An attack in May killed at least nine Iranians.

#Pt. Video showing air defenses tonight SW. of #Damascus (area of #Qatana). Military source says one "hostile object" downed. Target(s) & outcome remain unclear. https://t.co/IE2UypdNm2 pic.twitter.com/Maz1sw3Meg

— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) August 2, 2018

Israel has carried out dozens of strikes in Syria in recent months and been blamed for dozens more, which it has not acknowledged.

Israel has vowed not to let Iran establish a military presence in Syria.

There was no immediate comment from the IDF.

AFP contributed to this report.