In the early hours of Sunday, an anti-aircraft missile launched from Syria detonated over Israeli airspace, resulting in the scattering of shrapnel over the southern city of Rahat. Simultaneously, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) reportedly carried out strikes near the Syrian city of Homs.
According to Syria’s state news agency, SANA, the IAF targeted multiple sites near Homs during the airstrike, leading to unspecified “material losses.” The nature and extent of these losses were not detailed in the report.
As the strikes unfolded, residents in central and southern Israel reported hearing a substantial explosion, indicating the proximity and intensity of the event.
The IDF released the following statement following the incident:
“An anti-aircraft rocket was launched from Syria toward Israel. The rocket appears to have exploded in the air over Israeli territory. No special instructions for civilians on the Israeli home front have been issued at this time.
In response to the launch of an anti-aircraft rocket from Syria into Israeli territory last night, IDF fighter jets struck an anti-aircraft battery in Syria. In addition, the fighter jets struck additional targets in the area.”
Bchasdei Hasem no injuried were reported in the attack. Besuros Tovos.
Fragments of a Syrian anti-aircraft missile fell in Rahat, southern Israel following Israeli air strikes in Syria overnight. The IDF says it retaliated against the battery that fired the missile. pic.twitter.com/aj3Jx0jFxN
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) July 2, 2023
Part of the anti-aircraft missile fired by #Syria overnight, that exploded over #Israel and landed in the southern city of Rahat. A major catastrophe nearly averted. One must also ask where Syria obtained this missile from … pic.twitter.com/4qqUEjakTc
— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) July 2, 2023
