Iranian forces may have been targeted by missile attacks in Syria (AFP/file photo)
The Syrian army said late Sunday that "enemy" rockets had struck several military bases in the Hama and Aleppo countryside in what it said was new "aggression" by its enemies, state television said.
In a news flash, state television said the missile attacks took place at 10:30pm local time. Earlier, state television said successive blasts were heard in rural Hama province and that authorities were investigating the cause.
The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights monitor confirmed the firing of missiles, adding that "Iranian elements" were stationed at two of the targeted bases.
The Observatory could not immediately say whether there were any casualties, nor who was responsible for the missile strikes.
Israel has previously hit Iranian-backed militia outposts in Syria. Earlier this month it a struck a Syrian air base, killing seven Iranian personnel. Israel has warned it could hit Iranian bases in the war-torn country should tensions with Tehran escalate.
S. #Hama: huge blasts & fires inside 47th Brigade in S. outskirts of #Hama-city. https://t.co/SbAqLehIWv … pic.twitter.com/o5bty0s5T6 via @QalaatAlMudiqhttps://t.co/Hb4OgcUxMh
— ARnews 1936 (@ARnews1936) April 29, 2018
The Observatory said a Syrian army base was hit near the city of Salhab, west of Hama, where Iranian forces are also stationed.
It also said rockets hit Syrian government bases in the region surrounding Nairab military airport, which is close to Aleppo International Airport.
It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the rocket fire, the Observatory said.
Earlier on Sunday, Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel will maintain freedom of operation in Syria, Haaretz reported.
“We have no intention to attack Russia or to interfere in domestic Syrian issues,” Lieberman said at the annual Jerusalem Post conference, according to Haaretz.
“But if somebody thinks that it is possible to launch missiles or to attack Israel or even our aircraft, no doubt we will respond and we will respond very forcefully,” Haaretz quoted him as saying.
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