Israel retaliates against Iran missile fire with strikes in Syria; West Asia tension intensifies

Tel Aviv, Jan 22: Tension soared in West Asia on Monday, January 21, after Israel conducted a series of airstrikes early in the day against Iranian targets in Syria, the country's military confirmed, in retaliation to an Iranian missile fired at the Golan Heights. The exchange between the two regional enemies led to a heated environment with possibility of more aggression ahead.

Israel Defence Forces (IDF) hit two Iranian targets in and around the Syrian capital of Damascus, including its international airport, IDF spokesman Lt Col Jonathan Conricus was reported as saying. He said the strikes aimed munition departments, intelligence sites and others. He also said that the strikes hit Iranian warehouses at the airport.

During the operation, Israel also reportedly attacked Syrian anti-aircraft batteries that fired missiles at Israeli jets conducting the strikes, the IDF spokesman said. Israel also warned Syria against targeting its jets since it was targeting only Iran.

The operation was in response to a medium range surface-to-surface missile fired at the Golan Heights occupied by Israel on Sunday, January 20. The indigenous missile's launch saw for the first time a weapon with such payload was fired by the Iranian forces at its foe.