Syrian air defenses claim to down Israeli missiles

BEIRUT - Syrian air defenses allegedly shot down Israeli missiles near the capital Damascus on Tuesday, local state media reported. Israel said it was protecting itself from anti-aircraft fire.

"Our air defenses confronted hostile missiles launched by Israeli war planes from above the Lebanese territories and downed most of them before reaching their targets," the official Syrian news agency SANA cited a military source as saying.

It added that the majority were downed before reaching their targets. Three Syrian soldiers were injured and an ammunition depot damaged.