Israel launches an airstrike on Syrian targets

3 July, 2023 An F-16I Sufa fighter of the 105th Squadron of the Israeli Air Force takes off from Ramad David Air Base. Photo from the network The Israeli Air Force carried out an airstrike on targets near the Syrian city of Homs on Sunday morning, Euronews reports.

The airstrike by the Israeli Air Force was carried out against targets near the city of Homs. This happened after the explosion of a Syrian anti-aircraft missile over Israeli territory. According to reports of the Israeli police, a Syrian missile exploded over the southern Israeli city of Rahat.

An F-16I Sufa fighter of the 253rd Squadron of the Israeli Air Force during a night takeoff from the Kanaf Air Base 25. Photo from the network

In response, Israeli jets struck the air defence battery from where the anti-aircraft missile was launched. It is noted that other military facilities of the Syrian army were also destroyed.

The last suspected Israeli airstrike on Syria was carried out on 14 June, near the capital of Syria, Damascus. As a result of the strike, one Syrian soldier was wounded. As Militarnyi previously reported, the Ministry of Defense of Israel announced the purchase of 25 additional F-35 combat aircraft of the fifth generation.

The purchase will increase the Israeli Air Force's F-35 fleet to 75 units. The aircraft will replace the F-35A/B fighter fleet, which is aging and in need of replacement.

A pair of F-35I fighter jets of the 116th Squadron of the Israeli Air Force in flight.

The value of the agreement is about £3 billion and is financed from US aid funds.

As part of an agreement between the governments, Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney have committed to involve the Israeli defense industry in the production of aircraft components.