Syrian air defenses repel missile strikes targeting two airbases – media
Syrian air-defense systems have downed missiles after what may have been a new Israeli strike, according to media reports. The attacks reportedly targeted Shayrat Airbase in Homs province and Al-Dumair base northeast of Damascus.
Up to 10 missiles were destroyed by the Syrian Armed Forces, a military source told Sputnik. The Syrian air defenses managed to intercept some of the projectiles, according to a SANA reporter.
Meanwhile, the Al Mayadeen news outlet is claiming that six missiles were downed on their way to Shayrat, as well as three others targeting the military airfield near Damascus. The strike caused no physical damage or casualties, according to Al Mayadeen. Its report noted that the attack came before talks with militants were due to start over their withdrawal from the area.
The Pentagon has denied initiating strikes or conducting any other military activity in Homs province. “There is no US military activity in that area at this time,” the Pentagon’s spokesperson told Reuters. The same information was also shared with TASS news agency by Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon.
According to yet unconfirmed reports, the missiles entered Syrian airspace from Lebanon, which may indicate that the Israeli Air Force could have been involved, Al-Masdar News reports, citing a military source. The outlet’s reporter also published several videos allegedly showing the launch of interceptor missiles.
Israel, which hardly ever acknowledges its raids inside Syria, failed to comment on its alleged involvement. “We don’t comment on such reports,” an Israeli military spokesman told Reuters. The US Department of Defense spokesman, meanwhile, told Sky News Arabia that there are “a lot of players” in the region who could have carried out the Tuesday morning attack in Syria.
While it remains unclear who launched the attack, the reported strike comes just days after Washington, London and Paris carried out a coordinated strike in Syria in the early hours of Saturday morning. It also comes roughly a week after two Israeli F-15 fighters targeted another Syria’s airbase in Homs province, Tiyas (also known as T-4 Airbase).
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