Claimed image of an Israeli airstrike near Damascus, Syria, February 14, 2021

Israel struck Assad regime targets across Syria late Tuesday, including near the capital Damascus and the city of Homs in the center of the country.

Unconfirmed claims said at least five regime troops and three militiamen were killed in the strikes nears Homs just before midnight.

The specific targets were not identified.

Israel regularly fires missiles on regime and Iranian positions, bases, and warehouses, but last night’s attacks were the first since May 5, when a production facility was struck near the main Russian base in western Syria.

The regime’s military denied any casualties and put out its standard statement that some of the incoming missiles were shot down. The Israel Defense Forces followed their practice of issuing no comment.

Throughout Syria’s 122-month conflict, Israel has carried out the strikes, targeting links with Lebanon’s Hezbollah and pressuring Iran to withdraw its forces and foreign militias.

The attacks have escalated since April 2020. Targets have included the regime’s chief conventional and chemical weapons complex, the Scientific Studies Research Center; Damascus International Airport; Iranian personnel and weapons on bases near the capital and in central Syria; and Assad regime posts in southwest Syria near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.