Russian forces in Syria said on Friday that four Israeli warplanes fired four cruise missiles and 16 guided bombs a day ago at a “research facility” in the town of Masiaf, Reuters reported.

Masyaf Castle near the town of the same namePhoto: Pavlo Golovkin / AP – The Associated Press / Profimedia

Russian state agencies TASS and RIA Novosti report that Syrian forces shot down two rockets and seven guided bombs with anti-aircraft weapons provided by Moscow forces.

According to the same sources, the attack would have damaged a research facility.

Russian forces have remained in Syria since 2015, when they intervened in the Syrian civil war to help dictator Bashar al-Assad defeat rebel forces.

Israel has for years attacked targets it says are supported by the Iranian government, including the terrorist organization Hezbollah. Like Russia, Iran intervened in the conflict to support Bashar al-Assad.