Israel targets Latakia port with missile attack
On Tuesday evening, Syrian state television reported Israeli missile attacks on the port of Latakia.
The attack, which is the second Israeli airstrike on the port of Latakia in less than a month, destroyed a hospital building and several residential buildings and shops.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense announced in a statement that Israeli "aggressions" "caused heavy material damage" and that Syrian forces are now accurately assessing the damage.
The Israeli military has repeatedly targeted various areas of Syria with airstrikes in recent years, saying its intention is to counter Iranian forces or Iranian-backed groups.
One of the latest incidents of conflict was the Israeli missile attacks on Latakia on December 7, during which a number of containers were destroyed. Israeli media say that these containers contained arms shipments sent by Iran.
Live television images from the attack on the Latakia port on Tuesday evening also indicate that the container area was once again targeted, and surrounding buildings were also destroyed.
After the previous attack, Israeli officials claimed that "75 percent of the weapons sent by Iran to Syria were destroyed" as a result of that attack.
The two countries have also had tensions over the past two days over Israel's new plan regarding the Golan Heights.
According to this plan, Israel wants to double the number of Jewish residents of the Golan Heights within five years, something that Syria has condemned.
Israel captured the area, which had been part of Syria, in 1967 and officially annexed it in 1982. Apart from the United States, none of Israel's other Western supporters have recognized "Israeli sovereignty" over the Golan.
Source: Radio Farda
