File photo
Israeli warplanes reportedly struck a military site in Syria’s western Hama province late Sunday, according to the official SANA news agency.
SANA said, citing a military source, that the Israeli strike in the city of Masyaf had caused only material damage.
There was no comment from the Israeli army on the attack.
Masyaf is reported to house a number of regime chemical weapons facilities.
In the past three months, Israel had carried out several airstrikes targeting Iranian forces in Syria.
Israel frequently accuses Tehran of exploiting the ongoing conflict in Syria -- where Iran supports the ruling Bashar al-Assad regime -- to establish a permanent military presence near Israel’s border.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the situation in Syria with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi over the phone, the ministry said on Sunday.Safadi informed Lavrov about the arrival of volunteers from the Syrian civil defense agency, also known as White Helmets, to Jordan."Safadi, in particular, reported the arrival of 'The White Helmets' to Jordan, who will be sent to some western countries after a short stay," according to a statement published on the ministry's official website.Lavrov stressed the importance of repatriation of Syrian refugees.The talk was initiated by Jordan, the ministry said.In a tweet, Safadi said: "Discussed situation #Syria with #Russia FM Lavrov. We’ll maintain strong coordination to find peaceful solution to crisis that’ll preserve integrity of Syria Its people accept. Discussed situation #South Russian ideas for repatriation of refugees. Effective cooperation."More than 400 White Helmets allowed entry into JordanEarlier on Sunday, White Helmets chief Riyad Salih said that the evacuation of the White Helmets members and their families were blocked by the Bashar al-Assad regime, whose forces control Syria’s border with Amman. “We communicated with the UN and for their safety, evacuation was carried out to Jordan through [Israel-occupied] the Golan Heights,” he told Anadolu Agency. On Saturday, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said it has allowed the UN to organize the passage of some 800 White Helmets members for humanitarian reasons. Last month, Syrian regime forces launched a wide-ranging military operation -- supported by Russian air power – to recapture the opposition-held Daraa province, triggering a major displacement crisis, with an estimated 350,000 civilians fleeing the province towards areas near the Jordanian border.
Syria: Jordan informs Russia of White Helmets arrival
Jordan said Sunday it allowed passage to more than 400 Syrian civil defense agency members, White Helmets, reducing an earlier figure by almost half. On Saturday, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said it had allowed the UN to organize the passage of some 800 White Helmets members for humanitarian reasons.In a Sunday statement, foreign ministry spokesman Mohamed al-Kayed said Britain, Germany and Canada –- which made a legally binding pledge to resettle the Syrians within a specified period of time "because of a risk to their lives" --, settled on the figure of 422 White Helmets members rather than 800.The statement added that transfer of the civil defense volunteers to the three Western countries would be done within three months.Al-Kayed did not disclose location of White Helmets members, but said they would remain in a closed area.He added the Syrians were only allowed passage via Jordan due to humanitarian reasons.- US welcomesThe U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert welcomed the evacuation of the civil defense agency members.“We are glad that these brave volunteers, who have saved thousands of lives, are now out of harm’s way,” she said in a written statement.Nauert went on to say: “Members of the group, more than half of which are children, were allowed entry into Jordan on a transit basis, until UNHCR completes procedures for their resettlement in third countries.”Earlier on Sunday, White Helmets chief Riyad Salih said that the evacuation of the White Helmets members and their families were blocked by the Bashar al-Assad regime, whose forces control Syria’s border with Amman.Last month, Syrian regime forces launched a wide-ranging military operation -- supported by Russian air power – to recapture the opposition-held Daraa province, triggering a major displacement crisis, with an estimated 350,000 civilians fleeing the province towards areas near the Jordanian border.Assad regime blocks White Helmets evacuationJordan allows passage to 800 Syrian civil defense workers on humanitarian grounds
More than 400 White Helmets allowed entry into Jordan