Israeli and Syrian Forces Exchange Fire: Iron Dome Deployed For Interception

Following reports of an attack on Damascus and an explosion near the Syrian capital’s airport, the Israel Defence Forces and the Syrian Arab Army have exchanged fire. The engagement occurred following escalating tensions between Israel and a number of Arab Islamist groups, the assassination of the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militia, and an exchange of fire between Israeli forces and militant units in the Gaza Strip. Details regarding the nature of the Syrian-Israeli engagement and the types of assets deployed have yet to be unveiled, although it was confirmed that both sides activated air defences and intercepted enemy attacks with at least partial success. Territory in the Golan Heights, which have been under Israeli control since the Six Day War of 1967, was struck by short ranged rockets fired by an unknown actor - leading the Israeli Defence Force to activate the Iron Dome system for interception. A number of non state actors currently deploy military assets on Syrian territory, including Hezbollah and other Iranian aligned militias, which may have been responsible for the strike.

The Israeli Air Force reportedly launched strikes using cruise missiles against Syrian territory, many of which were reportedly intercepted. It is uncertain which Syrian systems were activated to repel the attack, with older platforms such as the S-75 and newer ones such as the BuK-M2 all deployed by the country’s armed forces. It remains uncertain how tensions between the neighbouring powers will evolve as ongoing counterinsurgency efforts in Syria come to and end after over eight years. Syria has received considerably military support from Russia, North Korea, Hezbollah and Iran. Its aerial warfare capabilities in particular remain considerably behind those of Israel, which has amassed a considerable inventory of modern fighters supplied by the United States.