ISRAELI troops closed in on Syria’s capital Damascus yesterday under cover of heavy air strikes, a Syrian opposition war monitor said yesterday.

Even though Israeli forces drew within 15 miles of the Syrian capital Israel is denying that its forces are advancing toward Damascus. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz did, however, boast of having destroyed the Syrian naval fleet as it was docked in port, as Israel takes advantage of chaos in Syria to smash the state’s military capacity.

Heavy air strikes were heard in the capital overnight and into Tuesday on the city and its suburbs. Photographs circulating online showed destroyed missile launchers, helicopters and warplanes.