Israeli aircraft reportedly conducted an airstrike targeting a weapons warehouse near the Russian Hmeimim airbase in Latakia province, Syria. Several reports suggest the attack was linked to the arrival of an Iranian cargo plane, raising suspicions that the aircraft, operated by Qeshm Fars Airlines, may have been transporting weapons. The airstrike has triggered speculation, although neither Israeli nor Syrian authorities have issued official statements confirming the incident.
Syrian media outlets, including state television and Russian sources, reported that Syrian and Russian air defenses responded to hostile targets over the coastal city of Jableh. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the strike hit a munitions depot near the Russian Hmeimim base, causing explosions that echoed across the region. The air defenses, alongside Russian military support, reportedly attempted to repel the attack for over 40 minutes. Sputnik, a Russian news agency, released footage showing explosions and defensive efforts in the area.
BIG: Israel targeted multiple locations in Syria’s Jableh, including the Russian Khmeimim Air Base.
Russian and Syrian air defenses together engaged Israeli missiles targeting Khmeimim.
Warehouses inside Hmeimim were hit shortly after an Iranian shipment arrived at the base. pic.twitter.com/pua0GqZ9wM
— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 3, 2024
According to Abdullah Almousa, a Syrian journalist, the strike occurred shortly after an Iranian Boeing 747, linked to the Qeshm Fars Airlines, landed in Latakia. The plane raised suspicions due to its unannounced arrival and prior reports of Iranian cargo flights being used to transport weapons for Iranian-backed groups in Syria and Lebanon.Â
Local sources reported that the airstrike, which took place around 4:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT), caused significant damage, with one missile falling on the outskirts of Jableh, sparking a fire. Firefighters were reportedly battling the blaze in the aftermath of the attack. Although no group has claimed responsibility, Israel is widely suspected due to its history of targeting Iranian military assets in Syria.
Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes in Syria since the beginning of the civil war in 2011, often aiming at Iranian and Hezbollah-linked sites to prevent arms transfers to Hezbollah in Lebanon. The area around Latakia, home to the Russian Hmeimim base, has been a frequent target of Israeli strikes, particularly due to the presence of Iran-backed groups operating in the region.
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