Two Syrian regime troops killed after Israeli strikes on Homs airfield

Israel fired missiles toward central Syria on Sunday evening, targeting an airbase and positions of Iran-backed fighters, according to reports.

At least two Syrian regime soldiers were killed and three wounded when the strikes hit the Shayrat airbase, Syrian state news agency SANA reported.

Syrian state television broadcast footage appearing to show air defences intercepting "missiles of an Israeli aggression" but the regime also reported "material damage" and casualties.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which is based in the UK, said strong explosions were heard when four Israeli missiles hit the Shayrat airbase in Homs province.

It said the missile attack targeted the positions of Iran-backed fighters in the area.

Official Syrian regime news agency SANA said air defences were responding to "hostile targets" over Homs province, adding that some missiles were shot down. It gave no further details.

The strikes occurred after Israeli warplanes were seen flying over neighboring Lebanon whose airspace Israeli air forces sometimes cross to carry out attacks on Syria.

Beirut-based The New Arab international news editor Yazan Al-Saadi witnessed the Israeli missiles fly over northern Lebanon shortly before the strikes were reported.

"From Batroun, a few minutes after sunset, the growl of Israeli warplanes caused panic among the residents," he said.

"At least two rockets - like low-level comets - were seen coming from the sea and flying overhead, clearly heading towards Syria. After the situation calmed down, many asked why it was okay for Israel to violate Lebanon's airspace to bomb Syria?"

My aunt and I were at Colonel in Batroun at sunset. The moment the sun was down, we heard the Israeli warplanes and saw the rockets come from the sea, flying over heard, a surreal low-level comet.

— Why L. Sadeye (@LSadeye) November 14, 2022

Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside regime-controlled parts of Syria in recent years, but rarely acknowledges or discusses such operations.

Israel has acknowledged, however, that it targets bases of Iran-allied militant groups, such as Lebanon's Hezbollah, which has sent thousands of fighters to support Syrian regime President Bashar Al-Assad's forces.

It has also bombed two civilian airports in Syria - Aleppo and Damascus airports - which it accuses of being used by Iran to transfer weapons and fighters.