RTMon, 16 Apr 2018 23:12 UTC
© PressTV/File
Syrian air defense systems have been activated in response to a missile attack apparently targeting Shayrat Airbase in Homs province, state media SANA reports.
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 all the projectiles were intercepted and inflicted no physical damage or casualties at the targeted Syrian base.
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.
The raid in Homs countryside reportedly coincided with another missile attack against a military airbase near Damascus. According to various Arabic media channels,
three missiles targeted Al Dumayr airport, but they were
all allegedly downed by the Syrian air defenses.
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.
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).
Comment: The Israelis were looking for more than a symbolic gesture. Apparently they are faring no better than FUKUS.
UPDATE April 17:Later
report claims it was a false alarm:
A commander of a military alliance that supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Reuters that the country's air defense was set off overnight due to a false alarm.
According to the anonymous military man, the malfunction was caused by "a joint electronic attack" by Israel and the US that targeted the Syrian radar system.
Earlier in the day, the Syrian media reported that the country's armed forces repelled a missile attack on the Shayrat air base in the Homs province. A Syrian military source told Sputnik that nearly 10 missiles were intercepted.
Comment: The Israelis were looking for more than a symbolic gesture. Apparently they are faring no better than FUKUS.
UPDATE April 17:
Later report claims it was a false alarm: