Syria: Missile attack kills 26, mostly Iranian fighters
Attack carried out by Israeli forces, says Iran media
A missile attack targeting government outposts in Syria’s northern region killed 26 pro- government fighters, mostly Iranians, a Syria war monitoring group said on Monday, amid soaring Mideast tensions between regional archenemies Israel and Iran.
Iranian media gave conflicting reports about the overnight incident amid speculation that it was carried out by neighbouring Israel.
The attack came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talked to President Donald Trump on the phone. The White House said the two leaders discussed the continuing threats and challenges facing the Middle East, “especially the problems posed by the Iranian regime’s destabilising activities.”
A day earlier, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo ratcheted up the Trump administration’s rhetoric against Iran and offered warm support to Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Israel has cited Iran’s hostile rhetoric, support for anti- Israel militant groups and development of long- range missiles.
The Britain- based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said late on Sunday that the night attack appears to have been carried out by Israel and targeted an arms depot for surface- to- surface missiles at a base in northern Syria known as Brigade 47. The Observatory said four Syrians were also among the casualties.
It said the death toll could rise as the attack also wounded 60 fighters and there were several others still missing.
Iranian state television, citing Syrian media, reported the attack.
However, an Iranian semi- official news agency denied reports that Iranian fighters were killed or that Iranian- run bases were hit. The Tasnim news agency quoted an unnamed Iranian informed official in its report but did not elaborate on the denial.
Another semi- official news agency, ISNA, said that the strike killed 18 Iranians, including a commander, in a suburb of the central city of Hama. It cited “local sources and activists” for its report.
The missiles targeted buildings and centers which likely include a weapons depot, ISNA reported.