(Israel Hayom via JNS) Israeli missiles struck targets near Quneitra in southwestern Syria early on Wednesday, February 23, according to official Syrian media.
The missiles were launched from the Golan Heights just after midnight, and caused material damage but no casualties, reported the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), citing a Syrian military source.
Israel did not comment on the report.
According to Lebanese media reports, the alleged Israeli attack targeted a Syrian military position near the villages of Madinat al-Baath and Rwihinah used by Iran-backed militias.
Last week, Syrian news outlets reported an Israeli strike on targets near Damascus. The Syrian military said the attack caused damage, but did not elaborate. The Syrian opposition claimed the strike had targeted Iranian sites, while Saudi reports said it “focused on sites belonging to the seventh division of Assad’s army used by Hezbollah.”
On Monday, February 21, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned Israeli strikes in Syria, warning they could lead to an escalation. Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad warned that Syria would respond to Israeli attacks.
Israel has stated it will not allow Iranian-backed troops allied with the Syrian government to operate in Syria.
Wednesday’s strike was the fifth attributed to Israel since the beginning of 2022.
Shekel Weakens as Russia-Ukraine Crisis Intensifies
(JNS) The Israeli shekel weakened on Tuesday, February 22 as investors sought safe-haven currencies, particularly against the U.S. dollar, as the Russian-Ukraine crisis intensified, according to Globes.
“The shekel is weakening against the dollar after reports that Russian troops have moved into eastern Ukraine,” the report stated. “In afternoon interbank trading, the shekel exchange rate is up 0.36% against the dollar at NIS 3.222/$ and up 0.32% against the euro at NIS 3.654/ˆ,” it added.
On Monday, February 21, the Bank of Israel set the representative shekel-dollar rate up 0.532% from Friday, at NIS 3.210/$, and the representative shekel-euro rate was set 0.317% higher at NIS 3.643/ˆ.
The trend marks a departure from last week, when the shekel strengthened against the dollar and euro after initial Russian claims that it would pull back troops from the Ukrainian borders, raising false hopes of a deescalation.
Also on Monday, the Bank of Israel said it would “begin a gradual process of raising interest rates in the coming weeks,” said the report. “The next interest rate announcement is on April 11, and analysts expect the rate will rise then from 0.1% to 0.25%, assuming that the U.S. Federal Reserve raises interest rates next month,” it announced.
