This archive report was first published on 23 December 2019.
On Sunday, December 22, 2019, Syrian air defences fired on Israeli missiles, shooting down one that fell outside Damascus, according to the official Syrian news agency Sana.
The missiles, which originated from Israel, targeted Syrian regime and Iranian positions in the Damascus suburbs, resulting in three explosions, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
At least two missiles came down near Aqraba, a suburb southeast of Damascus, with ambulances observed heading towards the impact site, the Observatory added.
Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes on Syrian territory since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011, targeting Iranian targets and pro-Tehran militias allied with the Damascus regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Iran and Hezbollah, sworn enemies of Israel, have backed the Assad's forces with advisers and fighters, leading to repeated Israeli strikes on their positions.
Recent strikes include an Israeli attack on November 20, 2019, which killed 21 pro-regime fighters, including 16 foreigners and two civilians, and a strike in July, which killed six Iranians and three pro-regime Syrian fighters.
