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Syria: Israel Launched Attack on Air Base Near Damascus

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Smoke and flames are seen near Mezzah military airport, outside Damascus, Syria, in this still image from video obtained by Reuters Jan. 13, 2017.
Smoke and flames are seen near Mezzah military airport, outside Damascus, Syria, in this still image from video obtained by Reuters Jan. 13, 2017.

The Syrian army said Friday Israel has launched a missile strike on a Syrian military air base near Damascus that has caused a series of explosions.

The army, in a statement, accused Israel of aiding the “terrorist groups” in Syria with the bombing.

“The Syrian army command and armed forces warn the Israeli enemy of the repercussions of this blatant attack and stress it will continue its war on terrorism,” the statement said.

State media report the attack on Mezzah air base was launched from somewhere near Lake Tiberias in northern Israel.

The Syrian military airport had been used as a base to fire rockets into rebel-held areas in the Damascus suburbs.

Mezzah air base, near Damascus, Syria
Mezzah air base, near Damascus, Syria

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported eight explosions around the air base when explosives apparently hit ammunition stockpiles. No casualties were reported.

Israel has been accused of launching several attacks against weapons systems and positions held by the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group in Syria since civil war broke out in the country nearly six years ago, including three missile strikes in 2016.

The Israeli military has not commented on Friday’s reported attack.

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