State media: Syria retracts report on missile attack

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00:34

Syrian state media on Tuesday retracted reports of an overnight missile attack on the central province of Homs, saying its air defenses had been activated after a "false alarm".

"Last night, a false alarm that Syrian air space had been penetrated triggered the blowing of air defense sirens and the firing of several missiles," state news agency SANA reported citing a military source.

"There was no external attack on Syria," the source added.

Earlier on Tuesday, local media reported Syrian air defenses intercepted missiles targeting a military facility in the central province of Homs, with the source of the missiles not yet confirmed.

Six missiles have reportedly targeted Al Shayrat Airbase, “most” of which were shot down, pro-Hezbollah Al-Manar TV said, citing an unnamed Syrian military source.

US response

The Pentagon said there were no reports of US military activity in the area following the strike.

A satellite image shows the Him Shinshar CW Bunker after being struck by US and coalition operations near Homs, Syria, April 14, 2018. /VCG Photo

"There is no US military activity in that area at this time," Eric Pahon, a Pentagon spokesman said. "We do not have additional details to provide."

Hit by US missile strike in 2017

US missiles struck al Shayrat Airbase last year in retaliation for a suspected sarin attack in Khan Sheikhoun which President Donald Trump blamed on pro-government Syrian troops.

News of fresh strikes on the airbase comes after the US, the UK and France carried out a wave of punitive strikes against government military facilities on Saturday in response to an alleged chemical attack on Douma, blamed on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Air missiles in the Damascus sky as the US launches an attack on Syria targeting different parts of the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria, early Saturday, April 14, 2018. /AP Photo

The Syrian government has strongly rejected the allegations as a fabrication by the rebels and Western countries to justify a military attack on Syria.

Before the US-led attack, Israeli warplanes had fired missiles on the T-4 airbase in the eastern countryside of Homs on April 9, killing 14 soldiers, including Iranian fighters.

Meanwhile, the Syrian state TV aired still image of what it said was the air defenses intercepting the missiles.

(With input from Xinhua News Agency, AFP)