Israel strikes Syrian air defence battalion in coastal city

By  News On Air   Mar 04, 2025

Israel has carried out airstrikes on a Syrian air defence battalion near the coastal city of Tartus.

According to Syrian state media, the attack occurred last night, with no immediate reports of casualties. Syrian Civil Defence teams have been deployed to assess the damage. A local TV channel reported that the strike hit an air defence battalion, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights mentioned a large explosion at Tartus Port, possibly caused by Israeli aircraft.

The Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee confirmed the strike, stating that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted a military site in Qardaha, near Tartus. He said the site was used to store weapons from the former Syrian regime. The attack was in response to recent developments in the region.

This is the latest in a series of Israeli strikes in Syria. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the demilitarization of southern Syria, while Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, insists the new government seeks no conflict with Israel.