Syria’s state media denied reports of an Israeli airstrike on an airbase outside the capital of Damascus, claiming the explosions were caused by an electrical problem at an munitions dump.
“No Israeli aggression on Mazzeh airport and the explosions heard in Damascus are explosions of ammunitions warehouses near the airport caused by short circuit,” the official Syrian news agency SANA quoted a military official as saying of the incident which occurred shortly after midnight and caused a series of large explosions.
“No Israeli aggression on Mazzeh airport and the explosions heard in Damascus are explosions of ammunitions warehouses near the airport caused by short circuit,” the official Syrian news agency SANA quoted a military official as saying of the incident which occurred shortly after midnight and caused a series of large explosions.
Unconfirmed reports said that five missiles were fired by Israel against a convoy of long-range missiles at the airport.
Meanwhile an official in the regional alliance backing Damascus told Reuters that the explosions were caused by Israeli missile fire from the Golan Heights and that Syrian air defenses had responded.
Meanwhile an official in the regional alliance backing Damascus told Reuters that the explosions were caused by Israeli missile fire from the Golan Heights and that Syrian air defenses had responded.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the military airbase southwest of the capital was hit by a “possible Israeli missile, which hit a munitions store setting off successive explosions”, adding that it caused deaths and injuries.
The airbase has been targeted in recent year by a number of airstrikes blamed on Israel.
The airbase has been targeted in recent year by a number of airstrikes blamed on Israel.
In December 2016 Syria accused Israel of launching surface-to-surface missiles targeting the airport’s runway and operations command center and the regime’s 4th division operations center at the airport, causing damage but no casualties.
Damascus also accused Israel of striking the base last year.
Israel rarely comments on foreign reports of military activity in Syria but has publicly admitted to having struck over 100 Hezbollah convoys and other targets in Syria, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that strikes will continue when “we have information and operational feasibility.”
The incident comes as shortly after a possible Iranian-built missile factory was identified in Syria by satellite images and reports of Iran moving ballistic missiles to Iraq and is developing the capacity to build more there, a claim denied by Tehran.
Damascus also accused Israel of striking the base last year.
Israel rarely comments on foreign reports of military activity in Syria but has publicly admitted to having struck over 100 Hezbollah convoys and other targets in Syria, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that strikes will continue when “we have information and operational feasibility.”
The incident comes as shortly after a possible Iranian-built missile factory was identified in Syria by satellite images and reports of Iran moving ballistic missiles to Iraq and is developing the capacity to build more there, a claim denied by Tehran.
"Such false and ridiculous news have no purpose other than affecting Iran's foreign relations, especially with its neighbours," Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi was quoted by Iran’s IRNA as saying.
It also comes as US special representative to Syria James Jeffrey and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at State Department Joel Rayburn, are in Israel to discuss attempts to remove Iran's presence in the region.
Jeffrey and Rayburn, who will also visit Jordan and Turkey met with Zohar Palti, the head of the Political-Military Bureau at Israel's Ministry of Defense who emphasized the need on preventing Iran and Hezbollah from establishing themselves in Syria and continuing to preserve Israel's security interests in the north.
It also comes as US special representative to Syria James Jeffrey and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at State Department Joel Rayburn, are in Israel to discuss attempts to remove Iran's presence in the region.
Jeffrey and Rayburn, who will also visit Jordan and Turkey met with Zohar Palti, the head of the Political-Military Bureau at Israel's Ministry of Defense who emphasized the need on preventing Iran and Hezbollah from establishing themselves in Syria and continuing to preserve Israel's security interests in the north.
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