Israel strike: Syria allies vow to respond

TEHRAN: Iran-backed forces in Syria said yesterday they would respond forcefully to an Israeli strike over Syria’s Palmyra area in the province of Homs on Wednesday evening, the second such strike within a week.

Syria’s defence ministry said one soldier was killed in the attack that targeted a communications tower.

Israel has kept silent about the strikes that came days after Damascus reported its air defences intercepted an Israeli missile attack above the Homs countryside, that wounded six Syrian soldiers. A statement by the so-called operations room of Syria’s Iran-backed allies said “we have taken a decision to respond to this attack … and the response will be very cruel”.