Syrian media claims Israel carried out fresh airstrikes near Damascus overnight

Araweelo News Network

Lieberman threatened to destroy Syria’s air defense systems if Israeli jets were targeted by regime forces

Tel Aviv(ANN)- The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reportedly carried out a fresh set of airstrikes on Syria in the Mount Qasioun region near Damascus overnight on Tuesday, according to a Syrian rebel news outlet.The reports claim that the latest strike targeted various military posts and demolished a Syrian military warehouse.The IDF has yet to comment or confirm the reports.Tensions between Syria and Israel have been escalating over the past week, with Israel carrying out three separate strikes within a three day period, targeting Syrian military outposts and a Hezbollah convoy believed to be carrying weapons.The Israeli army confirmed and spoke out on the attacks for the first time Friday.In a rare statement on the matter, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged Israeli airstrikes in Syria, defending Israel’s right to protect itself from the transfer of advanced weapons to the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah.”Our policy is very consistent,” Netanyahu said. “When we detect attempts to transfer advanced weapons to Hezbollah, and we have the intelligence and feasibility to carry out an operation, we will work to prevent it.”The Syrian army fired back, claiming it successfully shot down one Israeli plane and hit a second — the claim was swiftly denied by Israel.“The next time the Syrians use their air defense systems against our planes we will destroy them without the slightest hesitation,” Lieberman told Israel Radio.Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman threatened to destroy Syria’s air defense systems if Israeli jets were again targeted by regime forces.In a speech on Saturday, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah accused Israel of intervening in the Syrian civil war on a daily basis, and claimed that Netanyahu “fears the collapse” of the Islamic State group in Syria.Iran-backed Hezbollah has been fighting in the Syrian war in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, and Israel has expressed concern over whether the war will result in Iran increasing its power in the country.