3 Killed in Israeli ‘Aggression’ Targeting Southern Damascus, Says Syria

Missile fire is seen over Damascus, Syria January 21, 2019. (Reuters)
Missile fire is seen over Damascus, Syria January 21, 2019. (Reuters)
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3 Killed in Israeli ‘Aggression’ Targeting Southern Damascus, Says Syria

Missile fire is seen over Damascus, Syria January 21, 2019. (Reuters)
Missile fire is seen over Damascus, Syria January 21, 2019. (Reuters)

An Israeli "aggression" launched from the Golan Heights and targeting southern parts of the Syrian capital Damascus killed three people and caused some material damage, the Syrian ministry of defense said on Friday.

Earlier on Friday, state TV reported that Syrian air defenses shot down a number of missiles in the Damascus countryside.

The pro-government Cham FM said the Israeli attack resulted in a fire near Damascus International Airport, leading to the postponement of two flights.

There was no comment from Israel, which rarely confirms its activities inside Syria.

It says it targets bases of Iran-allied militias, such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah party that has fighters deployed in Syria and is fighting on the side of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government forces, and arms shipments believed to be bound for the militias.

The last attack was on May 13, when Israeli missiles struck the town of Masyaf in the Hama countryside, killing five people, according to Syrian state media.



France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
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France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)

Paris declined to comment on Algeria’s “strong condemnation” of the French government’s decision to recognize Morocco’s claim over the Sahara.

The office of the French Foreign Ministry refused to respond to an AFP request for a comment on the Algeria’s stance.

It did say that further comments could impact the trip Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is set to make to France in late September or early October.

The visit has been postponed on numerous occasions over disagreements between the two countries.

France had explicitly expressed its constant and clear support for the autonomy rule proposal over the Sahara during Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne’s visit to Morocco in February, reported AFP.

The position has helped improve ties between Rabat and Paris.

On Thursday, the Algerian Foreign Ministry expressed “great regret and strong denunciation" about the French government's decision to recognize an autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region "within Moroccan sovereignty”.

Algeria was informed of the decision by France in recent days, an Algerian foreign ministry statement added.

The ministry also said Algeria would draw all the consequences from the decision and hold the French government alone completely responsible.