BICOM

Israel reportedly fired a missile yesterday at a military target in Tel Bariqa near Quneitra in Syria, according to Syria’s official news agency SANA.

The missile strike took place during the day and caused damage but no casualties. The Saudi news channel, Al Arabiya Al Hadath, reported that Hezbollah fighters had been identified in the area before the missile strike. Israeli media speculated that the target was a Syrian army position being used to monitor IDF bases and movements close to the Israeli-Syrian border.

Israeli officials have voiced concerns about the presence of Iranian IRGC Quds forces and Hezbollah personnel in the area. Israeli intelligence also revealed the existence of a covert network of operatives called the ‘Golan File’ involving Hezbollah personnel recruiting local Syrian villagers to gather intelligence and attack Israeli forces over the border.

Israel has attacked Iranian and Hezbollah bases in Syria hundreds of times since 2017 but missile strikes during the day are extremely rare. Last week an explosion killed Hezbollah leader Mashour Zidan in southern Syria and on Wednesday Syrian state media said Israel bombed the strategic Tel Haraa site not far from where Zidan was killed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking yesterday at a memorial ceremony for Revisionist Zionist leader Vladimir Jabotinsky said: “On the northern front, we are working against Iran and Hezbollah, and you are hearing about it these days.”