Israel strikes Syria military bases, infrastructure; kills armed militants

Israel launched airstrikes on military airbases and infrastructure sites in the Syrian cities of Damascus, Hama and Homs on Wednesday, the Israeli military said.

The attack almost completely destroyed the Hama military airport and led to dozens of injuries among civilians and military personnel, the Syrian foreign ministry said in a statement.

On Thursday, the Israeli military said it killed several armed militants during the overnight raid in the Tasil region of southern Syria. Israeli troops came under fire during the mission and responded with ground and aerial strikes.

Israel and Syria have seen an increase in violence along the border after a new Islamist-led leadership was installed in Syria following Assad's ouster from power.

Israel has said it will not tolerate an Islamist militant presence in southern Syria and sent its troops into Syria's border zone. Syria's leadership has said it does not intend to open a front against Israel.

Israel spent years carrying out airstrikes on Syria during the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad, targeting Iran-linked military installations and weapons transfers from Tehran intended for the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which was deployed in Syrian territory.

That arms route was cut when Assad was toppled but Israel has kept up its strikes on Syrian military bases.

The strikes targeted the military airport in Hama, and the vicinity of the scientific research centre in the Barzeh neighbourhood in Damascus, Syrian state media and officials said.

Israel bombed the research centre facilities shortly after Assad was ousted by Islamist rebels on December 8, claiming it was used to develop guided missiles and chemical weapons.

In Hama, a Syrian military source told Reuters a dozen strikes demolished the runways, tower, arms depots and hangars at the military airport.

"Israel has completely destroyed Hama airbase to ensure it is not used. This is a systematic bombing to destroy the military capabilities of the country’s main airbases," the source said.

The Hama airbase west of the city is one of the country's main airbases, used extensively during the 13-year-old conflict between Assad and the rebels before they ousted him.

Israel also said on Wednesday it targeted the T4 airbase in Homs province, which it has repeatedly hit over the past week.

Source: Reuters