by Steve Sweeney
International editor

ISRAEL fired missiles that hit a number of targets close to Masyaf city in Syria’s western Hama province on Saturday night, its eighth attack so far this year. 

The assault inflicted material damage but no casualties according to the Syrian military, which said that defence systems were able to intercept most of the rockets. 

“At about 7.45pm on Saturday, the Israeli enemy launched an aerial aggression from the direction of the north of Lebanon that targeted some points in the central region as the army air defences confronted it and shot down a number of missiles,” a statement said. 

The strike coincided with the flight of Israeli jets over the Jbeil Keserwan area north of the Lebanese capital Beirut. 

While Tel Aviv rarely comments on its missile attacks, it sometimes claims to be targeting Syrian military positions or Hezbollah bases. 

The previous attack was in late March when explosions were reported in an area close to the airport in the Syrian capital Damascus.  

Two air strikes targeted the Syrian port of Latakia in December, causing mass damage, and at least 57 people were killed in eastern Syria in January last year in what were the deadliest air strikes since the aggression began.

Despite appeals, the United Nations has remained silent over Israel’s actions, which experts deem a breach of international law and potential war crimes. 

At least 130 Syrians are believed to have been killed last year by Israeli missiles in 30 air strikes.