Huge explosion reported at Syrian air defense base

Unconfirmed reports suggest a missile strike from Mediterranean Sea; social media explodes with posts blaming Israel

Illustrative photo of Syrian soldiers loyal to President Bashar Assad at the Dabaa military air base, in Homs province (photo credit: AP/SANA/File)

A Syrian air defense base near the coastal city of Latakia was reportedly destroyed Wednesday night, with multiple Syrian and Lebanese sources speculating that an Israeli strike from the Mediterranean was to blame.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported a loud explosion in a Syrian army base, and Twitter users quoted eyewitnesses who said the blast occurred near Snobar Jableh, just south of the city.

Unconfirmed reports suggested the explosion was the result of a missile strike from the sea. And social media exploded with posts alleging that Israel was responsible.

The coastal strip of Syria, encompassing the cities of Tartous, Latakia and Baniyas, is part of a predominantly Alawite portion of the country which remains loyal to the Assad regime.

Earlier on Wednesday the Lebanese government news agency reported six Israeli aircraft flying through Lebanese airspace along the coast north of Beirut.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/huge-explosion-reported-at-syrian-air-...