Report: IAF hit advanced Russian missiles outside Damascus - Ari Yashar

by Ari Yashar

Saudi report follows prior reports, saying Hezbollah sites adjacent to elite Syrian army division hit, taking out anti-tank missiles.

 

IAF F-16

Flash 90

A day after Syrian media reported that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck a base belonging to the Iranian terror proxy Hezbollah, a Saudi news site gave new details on Wednesday.

The site Elaph, as cited by Yedioth Aharonoth, quoted a security source in Tel Aviv revealing that the IAF struck Hezbollah sites on Monday night at the feet of Mount Qasioun, which overlooks Damascus in Syria.

That version of events contradicts earlier reports, according to which the target was a base or group of military posts in the mountainous Qalamoun border region with Lebanon.

The Saudi site quoted the source as saying that Israel estimates Hezbollah is storing advanced Russian anti-tank missiles that are capable of piercing the defense of the Merkava Mark IV, Israel's most advanced tank.

According to the report, the Israeli airstrike consisted of seven missiles which hit a site adjacent to the elite Fourth Armored Division of the Syrian army.

That brigade includes special forces loyal to Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, is lead by his brother Maher al-Assad, and is said to consist mostly of members of Assad's Alawite sect, which is a branch of Shia Islam.

Reports in Syria on Tuesday had indicated that as many as 13 pro-regime fighters were killed in four strikes, including many Hezbollah terrorists who are fighting to prop up Assad.

The new report indicating Israel struck outside Damascus comes following Arab media reports two weeks ago, which stated that the IAF struck near Damascus International Airport, in a bombing apparently targeting a weapons transfer to Hezbollah.

Earlier in the month it was reported that the IAF struck an advanced missile transfer including long-range Scud missiles as they made their way through Qalamoun en route to Hezbollah.

If true, the report would mark the second time Israel blocked a Scud missile shipment to Hezbollah, after having reportedly done so last April as a shipment was leaving Damascus.


Ari Yashar

Source: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/203945#.VlYCCL-zdds

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