Israeli Defense Forces have struck multiple ‘Iranian targets’ outside Damascus, claiming it helped prevent a deadly attack with ‘killer drones’. Syrian state TV said the country’s air defenses intercepted most of the missiles.

There have been multiple reports of explosions in the sky over Damascus on Saturday evening before midnight. In a rare admission, the IDF confirmed the raid, claiming it targeted Iranian Quds Force operatives and Shiite militias who were allegedly planning a "large scale attack of multiple killer drones."

BREAKING: We just prevented a pending, large-scale attack of multiple killer drones on Israel by striking Iranian Quds Force operatives and Shiite Militia targets in Syria.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 24, 2019

The raid focused on striking targets outside of Aqraba village, southeast of Damascus. Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus said there might be casualties among the 'militia'.

Israel frequently launches airstrikes against Syria, but it seldom comments on what are the targets exactly. The attacks are often rebuffed by Syria air defense systems.

"Our forces operate in every sector against the Iranian aggression," Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted after the attack. “If someone rises up to kill you, kill him first,” he added.

In a major operational effort, we have thwarted an attack against Israel by the Iranian Quds Force & Shi'ite militias. I reiterate: Iran has no immunity anywhere. Our forces operate in every sector against the Iranian aggression. “If someone rises up to kill you, kill him first.”

— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) August 24, 2019