Israeli fighter jets bombed targets near the international airport in Damascus, Syrian opposition sources and media outlets affiliated with President Bashar Assad's regime reported on Wednesday. It was the second report of an Israeli airstrike in Syria since the start of Russia's military intervention on behalf of Assad in September. None of the reports of an Israeli strike has been officially confirmed by either the Israeli or the Syrian governments.
According to the reports, explosions were heard in the pre-dawn hours on Wednesday in the vicinity of the airport, causing a power outage in the area and a temporary cessation of flights. The reports also included supposed photographs of the damage caused by the alleged Israeli airstrike.
Since the civil war began in Syria, foreign media outlets have attributed several airstrikes in the war-ravaged country to Israel. The previous report about such a strike came on Oct. 31, when it was said that Israel had hit several Hezbollah targets. Israeli officials never formally confirmed those attacks, while Israel has also made it clear it has no intention of involvement in the conflict as long as its red lines are not crossed.
In an interview with The Washington Post last June, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said, "Our policy is on the one hand not to intervene, on the other hand to keep our interests."
Ya'alon presented the three red lines Israel would take action to preserve.
"One is not to allow the delivery of advanced weapons to any terror organization, whether by Iran or by Syria. Second, not to allow delivery of chemical agents or weapons to any terror faction. The third is not to allow any violation of our sovereignty, especially in the Golan Heights. When it happens, we act," he said.
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