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Lebanese media reports Israeli Air Force jets destroyed an arms facility in an industrial area near Homs, Syria that, according to Russian media, is affiliated with the Lebanese based terrorist group Hezbollah.
By Roi Kais and Yoav Zitun
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) attacked an armament factory in the area surrounding the Syrian city of Homs on Wednesday, according to Lebanese news site Elnashra. The factory that was attacked was allegedly affiliated with Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah, according to Russian broadcasting channel RT Arabic, formerly known as Rusiya Al-Yaum.
A photo posted online after attack, claiming to be of the Israeli strike in Syria – Ynet (not credited)
Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli planes were reported to have flown in the commercial mountain range over the Lebanese Mountains, before a massive explosion was heard on the Lebanese-Syrian border.
The Lebanese-based, Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadeen television network additionally stated that there were “unconfirmed reports that Israel attacked a facility in an industrial area in the suburbs of Homs, and that the Syrian anti-aircraft systems responded” to the Israeli attack.
While the Arab-language Sky News site reported that the IAF struck an arms factory four times, Al Mayadeen claimed that that the attack was aimed at “a factory of copper vessels” in an industrial area near Homs. Al Mayadeen also noted that the Syrian army responded by firing a surface-to-air missile from the base of the Syrian army’s 72nd Brigade.
The strike took place as Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Tehran and met with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei earlier in the day, in an effort to strengthen the Russia-Iran-Syria alliance.
Last month, the IDF attacked three Syrian artillery cannons in response to earlier rocket fire at the Golan Heights, with the IDF Spokesperson’s Office stating that five rockets had been identified in the northern Golan Heights, and that four hits had been identified within Israeli territory.
In response, the Syrian Foreign Ministry sent two letters, to the UN secretary-general and to the Security Council president, stating that “Syria warns again of the the grave consequences of such repeated aggressive acts” and demanded the UN rebuke Israel’s actions.
Two days earlier, the IDF attacked a Syrian army post of the Syrian army in response to spillover fire from internal Syrian fighting.
View original Ynet publication at:
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5037355,00.html
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