The IDF on Friday evening struck weapon storage facilities containing coastal missiles that posed a threat to international and Israeli maritime freedom of navigation, in the Latakia area of Syria, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit confirmed in a statement.
In addition, components of surface-to-air missiles were struck in the area of Latakia, the statement added.
“The IDF will continue to operate to maintain freedom of action in the region, in order to carry out its missions and will act to remove any threat to the State of Israel and its citizens,” it added.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said following the strikes in Syria, “The IDF attacked and destroyed strategic weapons across Syria this evening that posed an immediate threat to the State of Israel.”
“We will not allow threats, and no entity will have immunity—we will continue to protect Israel's security,” he stated.
The confirmation came after media outlets affiliated with the pro-Iranian axis reported that Israel carried out airstrikes in the Tartus and Latakia regions of Syria.
Syria TV, a channel associated with the regime in Damascus, reported one Israeli strike which targeted Brigade 107 in the city of Jableh, on the outskirts of Latakia.
These are the first Israeli strikes in Syria since the recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and the lifting of US sanctions against Syria.
The Reuters news agency reported earlier this week that Israel and Syria have engaged in direct face-to-face meetings in recent weeks aimed at de-escalating tensions along their shared border.
These contacts, a rare development between the long-time adversaries, follow months of indirect back-channel communications facilitated by intermediaries. Reuters noted the talks began after Islamist rebels, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, ousted former President Bashar Al-Assad in December.
Earlier this month, al-Sharaa confirmed that indirect talks are being held between his country and the State of Israel, aimed at what he described as "calming the situation and preventing loss of control."
(Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)