Israel hits back after Syrian anti-aircraft missile lands near nuclear reactor

22 April 2021, 09:34

An image from video showing what is said to be Israel's top secret nuclear facility in Dimona
Israel Explosion. Picture: PA

Israeli media later described the Syrian missile as an ‘errant’ projectile, not a deliberate attack.

A Syrian anti-aircraft missile has landed in southern Israel, setting off air raid sirens near the country’s top-secret nuclear reactor, the Israeli military said.

Israel said it responded with an attack on the missile launcher and air-defence systems in neighbouring Syria, but media later described the Syrian missile as an “errant” projectile, not a deliberate attack.

In recent years, Israel has repeatedly launched air strikes at Syria, including at military targets linked to Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, both allies of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Such strikes routinely draw Syrian anti-aircraft fire. Thursday’s exchange was unusual because the Syrian projectile landed deep inside Israel.

Israel Memorial Day
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Debbie Hill/AP)

Syria’s state news agency Sana said the exchange began with an Israeli air strike on Dumeir, a suburb of the capital of Damascus which is believed to house Syrian army installations and batteries as well as bases and weapons depots belonging to Iran-backed militias. Sana said four soldiers were wounded.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitoring group, said the Israeli strikes hit an air defence base belonging to the Syrian military and destroyed air defence batteries in the area. It said the Syrian military fired surface-to-air missiles in response.

Syrian media made no mention of an anti-aircraft missile landing deep inside Israel.

The Israeli military described the projectile that landed near the nuclear site as a surface-to-air missile, which is usually used for air defence against warplanes or other missiles. That could suggest the Syrian missile had targeted Israeli planes but missed and flew off errantly.

However, Dimona, the Negev desert town where Israel’s nuclear reactor is located, is 185 miles south of Damascus, a long range for an errantly fired surface-to-air missile.

Iran Russia
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, whose country has accused Israel of being behind a series of incidents (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service/AP)

The Israeli army said it had deployed a missile defence system to intercept the projectile and there had been no damage. The military later said an initial investigation indicated the Syrian missile was not intercepted.

The air raid sirens were sounded in Abu Krinat, a village a few miles from Dimona. Explosions heard across Israel might have been the air defence systems.

Apparent missile fragments were found in a swimming pool in Ashalim, a community approximately 20 miles south west of Dimona. Israeli troops arrived at the scene and collected the fragments.

The military said that in response to the incoming missile, it launched an air strike at the battery that launched the anti-aircraft missile and other surface-to-air batteries in Syria.

The exchange between Israel and Syria comes amid growing tensions between Israel and Iran, a key ally of Syria.

Iran, which maintains troops and proxies in Syria, has accused Israel of a series of attacks on its nuclear facilities, including sabotage at its Natanz nuclear site on April 11, and vowed revenge.

It also threatened to complicate US-led attempts to revive the international nuclear deal with Iran.

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Virginia Giuffre

Woman driving Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre during crash that left her with 'four days to live' breaks silence

Exclusive
'Donald Trump has made Putin comfortable,' Mikhail Khodorkovsky has warned

'Trump has made Putin comfortable' despite massive Ukraine war losses, exiled former oligarch tells LBC

The bodies of Andrew Searle and his wife Dawn were discovered by a neighbour.

British couple found dead in south of France home being ‘treated as murder-suicide’

The vehicle was later extinguished after the driver, covered in flames, emerged from the vehicle.

Amsterdam Dam Square car explosion sees driver engulfed in flames - just days after mass stabbing

d

Pictured: US tourist arrested for sailing to remote island and leaving a can of Coke for world's most isolated tribe

The Sentinelese are a pre-Neolithic tribe that rejects contact with the modern world

US tourist arrested for sailing to remote island and leaving a can of Coke for the world's most isolated tribe to try

The Trump administration has been ridiculed after imposing tariffs on uninhabited islands

'No one is safe, not even the penguins': Trump administration ridiculed after imposing tariffs on uninhabited islands

World leaders react to US tariffs

'This is not the act of a friend': World leaders react to Trump's 'unwarranted' tariffs

British couple

British couple found dead in New Zealand named - as police probe possible murder-suicide

Virginia Giuffre said she had been left with 'four days to life' after the crash

Bus driver breaks silence on Virginia Giuffre crash that left her 'with four days to live'

Foreign Secretary David Lammy

David Lammy to urge Nato allies to increase defence spending in bid to make alliance 'stronger, fairer and more lethal'

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

EU threatens further countermeasures against US tariffs after 'major blow to world economy'

Lord Sugar labels Trump tariffs 'a disaster' as Apprentice star teases potential US Presidential meeting

Lord Sugar labels Trump tariffs 'a disaster' and warns that the president 'hasn't thought it through'

Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations in Gaza

Israel expands ground attack on Gaza to seize 'large areas' - despite pleas from hostage families

Police said two people died on Palliser Road, Roseneath.

British couple found dead at home in New Zealand - just months after moving to 'begin new chapter'

Virginia Giuffre warned it was a "very bad situation" after she claimed a school bus ploughed into her car

Virginia Giuffre was charged with breaching restraining order days before crash that 'left her with days to live'