Syrian Anti-aircraft Missile Explodes Over Southern Israel Amid Escalating Tensions

Syrian officials reported intercepting a missile salvo from Israel on Sunday, while Israeli police stated remnants of a Syrian anti-aircraft missile landed in a remote town without causing injuries, according to reports. Israel has recently intensified strikes on Syrian airports and air bases in an effort to disrupt Iran’s increasing use of aerial supply lines for weapon deliveries to allies in Syria and Lebanon, including Lebanon’s Hizbullah.

Syrian state media reported their air defenses intercepted Israeli missiles throughout central Syria, successfully downing most of them. The Syrian army released a statement saying missiles that traveled over parts of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, hit areas near the city of Homs, resulting only in property damage.

An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed their warplanes targeted several areas, including a Syrian air defense battery that launched an anti-aircraft missile toward Israel. Following a midair explosion heard across Israel, fragments of the Syrian missile landed in Rahat, a town approximately 110 miles south of the cease-fire line between the two countries.

Local media shared images of what appeared to be the scorched tip of a large missile upright in a residential area and missile tail-fins in a field. The Israeli military said its warplanes were unharmed.