Israel launches airstrikes on Syrian air base

- Moscow says Israeli jets have fired 8 missiles, 5 of which were intercepted by air defense system at air base in Homs

Israeli jets fired eight guided missiles at an airbase in Syria's Homs province, five of which were intercepted, according to Russian Defense Ministry on Monday.

'On April 9 from 03.25 to 03.53 Moscow time, two F-15 jets of Israeli Air Forces, without entering Syrian air space, from territory of Lebanon, fired eight guided missiles at Tiyas air base.

'Three missiles reached the western part of the aerodrome, five were destroyed by the Syrian Air Defense Forces,' the ministry said in a statement.

Earlier, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed the airstrikes killed 14 people, including Iranian citizens at the military base near the city of Homs in Syria.

The Syrian regime also confirmed that an airbase had been hit by a missile attack.

According to the Syrian news agency (SANA), the bombardment is targeted at the 'T4' airbase in the Central Homs province exactly at 4 am local time (0100 GMT).

The agency said the bombing killed some people and injured others, but did not give an exact toll.


By Elena Teslova in Moscow

Additional reporting by Ali Abo Rezeg in Ankara

Anadolu Agency

energy@aa.com.tr