Israel strikes Syria’s Damascus, Hama airport

Israeli airstrikes targeted on Wednesday the airport in the Syrian city of Hama and the vicinity of the scientific research center in the Barzeh neighborhood of the capital Damascus, Syrian state news agency (SANA) and local officials said.

Israel bombed facilities of the scientific research center shortly after former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted. Israel has claimed the center was used to develop guided missiles and chemical weapons.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the strikes.

Israel spent years carrying out airstrikes on Syria during Assad’s rule, targeting Iran-linked military installations and weapons transfers from Tehran intended for the Lebanese Hezbollah, which was deployed in Syrian territory.

That arms route was cut when Assad was toppled but Israel has continued to carry out strikes on Syrian military bases.

Casualties were also reported following the airstrikes on Hama, security sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

The violence along the border between Israel and Syria marks increased friction between Israel and Syria, where a new leadership has been installed after rebels ousted Assad from power.

Israel has since said it will not tolerate a militant presence in southern Syria and sent its own forces into Syria’s border zone. Syria’s leadership has said it does not intend to open a front against Israel.