Syrian Air Defense Shoot Down Israeli Missile

The official Syrian news agency SANA said air defences "intercepted hostile missiles launched by the Israeli warplanes" from over Lebanese territories, citing a military source.

Israel has previously carried out several bombings in Syria against what it says are Iranian military targets and advanced arms deliveries to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese group, both enemies of the Jewish state. An Israeli military spokeswoman declined to comment on reports of a strike in Syria when contacted by AFP.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor also reported "an Israeli raid". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed not to let Tehran- a supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from entrenching itself militarily in the war-torn country.

Experts say Israel is to be greatly affected by US President Donald Trump's announcement of a withdrawal of American forces from Syria, as it would leave the area open to Iran and its partners to develop their military capacity.

Yet Israeli officials, who have previously applauded Trump's policy in the Middle East, have stressed that it has long managed that front alone.