DAMASCUS, April 19 (Xinhua) -- In the early hours of Friday, the Israeli military launched a series of airstrikes targeting Syrian air defense sites in the southern region, the Syrian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The airstrikes started at approximately 2:55 a.m. local time on Friday (2355 GMT Thursday) from northern Israel and aimed at air defense installations in southern Syria, it said.
The strikes caused material losses, but no casualties were reported, it added.
More than six Israeli aircraft were observed flying in southern Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The radar battalion was specifically targeted by the airstrikes. Despite the deployment of Syrian air defenses, no interceptions were made, said the organization.
Iranian-backed militias within Syrian territories reportedly took precautionary measures ahead of the airstrikes. ■
