Syrian Army warns Israel it will respond after military airport bombed near Damascus (VIDEO)
Syrian state news agency SANA says Israeli jets have bombed the Mezzeh military airport west of Damascus, accusing Tel Aviv of supporting terrorism. The airport was rocked by multiple explosions, with ambulances rushing to the scene.
The Syrian Arab Army has warned that there will be repercussions for Israel for the “flagrant attack” on the military base, state TV said, citing a Syrian army command spokesman. It also linked the alleged strike to Israel’s “support of terrorist groups.”
Israeli air strike on #Mezze military airport #Damascus#Syriapic.twitter.com/upCUfZoa5m
— Lizzie Phelan (@LizziePhelan) January 12, 2017
The army said several missiles were fired at the Mezzeh airport’s compounds from the Lake Tiberias area in northern Israel at about 12am Friday. The strike reportedly damaged one of the compounds of the crucial military facility.
The Mezzeh airport is located west of Damascus, just 5 kilometers from the Presidential Palace, the official residence of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
#BREAKING Israeli jets attacked Syria army base in Damascus as part of its 'support of terrorists groups: Sana news agency pic.twitter.com/0e2wFEjnmM
— Guy Elster (@guyelster) January 12, 2017
#Breaking#Syria Army warns #Israel of "consequences of blatant attack on #Almazza Airport." says missiles used NOT F-35. pic.twitter.com/7ZNDrMlOqu
— Ali Alimadadi 🇮🇷 (@alialimadadi110) January 13, 2017
There was no information on the death toll resulting from the airstrike immediately available. The base is reported to house Syria’s elite Republican Guards and Special Forces.
Footage from the scene with heavy fire and the sounds of explosions has surfaced on social media. Multiple reports from journalists and activists on the ground described the bombing, with the opposition also reporting there were rockets fired.
The airstrike in almazah military airport short time ago pic.twitter.com/z9qaPUpwbX
— yasser alhaji (@yasseralhaji1) January 12, 2017
“Rockets strike at Mezzeh Military airport in Damascus minutes ago,” tweeted Hadi al-Bahra, former president of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces.
Israel and the terrorists are attacking Damascus tonight mezzeh airport. pic.twitter.com/pOyE47KmzT
— ayham alassad (@Ayham22mmAl) January 13, 2017
This is the second time in two months the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has being accused by the Syrian government of targeting Syrian positions from Israeli territory.
On December 7, SANA reported that “several surface-to-surface missiles” were launched by the IDF from the Golan Heights. At the time, the source in the Syrian armed forces slammed the attack as a “desperate attempt” by Israel to endorse terrorists.
On Thursday, at least nine people were killed and several others injured as result of a suicide attack in the Kafr Sousa neighborhood in Damascus. The terrorist had reportedly detonated an explosive belt near the al-Muhafaza sports club, SANA reported. RT’s Lizzie Phelan reported, citing a National Defense Forces (NDF) commander on the ground, that allegedly as many as five perpetrators took part in the attack, out of which three managed to escape and one was killed by a sniper.
URGENT: Powerful #blast rocks #Damascus, killing up to 6 - reportshttps://t.co/PKt4SblSuy#Syriapic.twitter.com/D0wGiGYnv4
— RT (@RT_com) January 12, 2017