Israel Won't Confirm, but Syria Claims Israeli Warplanes Are Hitting Targets Near Damascus

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Israeli warplanes carried out two airstrikes Sunday near Damascus, one near the city's international airport and a second outside a town close to the Lebanese border, Syria's state news agency said.

Syria: U/D Photos thick smoke and massive fire seen following Israeli airstrike near Damascus pic.twitter.com/jeeSI4hJlo

— Yiddish News (@YiddishNews) December 7, 2014

SANA called the attack "an aggression against Syria" and said there were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it does not comment on "foreign reports."

#Syria Alleged picture of Israeli airstrike near Damascus via @IsraelHatzolah cc @EjmAlrai pic.twitter.com/FzVscsc6Lu

— Green lemon (@green_lemonnn) December 7, 2014

Syria's state news agency did not provide any details on what was hit near the Damascus airport or in the town of Dimas, which is located along the main highway from the Syrian capital to the Lebanese frontier crossing.

Israel has carried out several airstrikes in Syria since the revolt against President Bashar Assad began in March 2011. Most of the strikes have targeted sophisticated weapons systems, including Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles, believed to be destined for Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group.

Israel has never confirmed the airstrikes.

While Israel has tried to stay out of the war in neighboring Syria, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly threatened to take military action to prevent Syria from transferring sophisticated weapons to its ally Hezbollah.