Syria airbase strikes: Russia, Syria blame Israel for deadly attack

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The Syrian army said two Israeli F-15 warplanes carried out the attack on the T-4 air base in central Syria before daybreak Monday by firing missiles from Lebanese airspace, according to the Russian defense ministry.

The Israeli warplanes fired eight missiles from inside Lebanese airspace and targeted the T-4 airbase in the eastern countryside of the Homs province in central Syria, five of which were repelled by Syrian air defenses.

"Two F-15 planes of the Israeli army hit the airbase between 03:25 am and 03:53 am Moscow time (0025 GMT and 0053 GMT) with the help of eight missiles controlled remotely from Lebanese territory, without entering Syrian air space," the Russian defense ministry was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

Citing a military source, Syrian state media also said Israel was behind Monday's attack.

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

Israel has yet to comment on the accusation.

According to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights,14 fighters were killed on Monday's missile attacks, including at least three Syrian officers and Iranian forces.

Syrian state TV earlier said the United States is suspected of carrying out the attack, while several US officials said there was no truth to reports that the US military had launched air strikes against a Syrian government air base.

It followed a warning by US President Donald Trump on Sunday that there would be a "big price to pay" after medical aid groups reported dozens of people were killed by poisonous gas in a besieged rebel-held town in Syria.

(Top image: file photo)

Source(s): Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency