Israel reportedly launched Jericho I surface-to-surface missiles for the first time in its alleged attack on an Iranian base in Syria, Russian officials told Lebanese TV channel Al Mayadeen, which is affiliated with Hezbollah.

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Al Mayadeen reported that two Jericho I missiles were launched, with one of them intercepted by the Russian aerial defense system Pantsir-S1, which was deployed to Syria to protect Russian military personnel in the war-torn country.

According to foreign sources, the missile has been in Israel's arsenal for decades, since the 1960s, but there have so far been no reports of such a missile being used in operational settings.

Jericho surface-to-surface missile (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Arab media outlets reported Saturday that Israel attacked an Iranian base near the town of al-Kiswah, 15 kilometers southwest of Syrian capital Damascus.

Syrian state television corroborated the report, saying Israeli missiles struck a military position near Damascus overnight and Syria's air defense system thwarted them.

"The Israeli enemy launched...several surface-to-surface missiles towards a military position," state television said, adding there had been "material losses" at the site.