UPDATE - 8 soldiers injured as Israeli airstrike hits military position near Damascus airport

CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE, UPDATES WITH SYRIAN AGENCY REPORT

By Anadolu staff

IDLIB, Syria (AA) – At least eight soldiers were injured as an Israeli warplane targeted a military position near an airport in the Syrian capital late Thursday.

“Eight soldiers were injured on Thursday evening as a result of an Israeli air strike in the vicinity of the capital, Damascus,” the Syrian regime news agency SANA reported.

“At approximately 10:50 p.m. (1950GMT) Thursday, the Israeli enemy launched an air attack from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan, targeting a site in the vicinity of Damascus,” the agency quoted an unnamed military source.

Social media accounts close to the Syrian regime reported that the warplane struck a position near al-Mezzeh Military Airport in Damascus around 22.50 local time (1950GMT).

No statements have been issued by Israel or the Syrian regime regarding the airstrike.

Israel has been intermittently carrying out attacks on Iranian-backed groups and military positions affiliated with the Syrian regime's army since the start of the country’s civil war in 2011.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi