Syria, Russia blame Israel for airbase attack

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DAMASCUS: Syrian state media blamed Israel for the overnight attack on a Syrian airbase in central Syria on Monday.

“The Israeli aggression on the T4 airport was carried out with F-15 planes that fired several missiles from above Lebanese land,”  said state news agency SANA.

Syria initially suspected the US to have been responsible for the airstrike but Washington swiftly denied the accusations.

“At this time, the Department of Defense is not conducting air strikes in Syria,” said the Pentagon in a statement.

“However, we continue to closely watch the situation and support the ongoing diplomatic efforts to hold those who use chemical weapons, in Syria and otherwise, accountable,” the statement added.

The attack comes on the heels of an alleged chemical weapons attack by Syrian government forces in the town of Douma. Moscow and Syria denied the accusations.

Interfax cited the Russian Defence Ministry as saying the Israeli war planes had carried out the strikes from Lebanese air space, and that Syrian air defense systems had shot down five of eight missiles fired.

Russian news agency Interfax also said on Monday that Israeli war planes were behind the attack and fired eight missiles from Lebanese air space. Syrian air defense systems shot down five of them.

Israel has not yet commented on the whether it was responsible. It has conducted several airstrikes in Syria since 2012 but offers rare public acknowledgements.

The Israeli Air force conducted raids inside Syria last month when its F-16 aircraft was shot down by Syrian air defences, though the pilot ejected and landed safely in Israel.

Israel also admitted responsibility last month for the 2007 air strike on a Syrian nuclear reactor.

1 COMMENT

  1. Good work Israel…these butchers who use gas to attack civilian areas are the worst people on earth…Putin and Al assad are directly responsible for these deaths…

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