Airport attack raises tension

AN APPARENT Israeli missile attack on a Syrian military installation near Damascus International Airport has raised tensions between the two hostile neighbours.

The Syrian military said the attack, which could be felt at least nine miles away, was carried out by Israel and aimed to “raise the morale of terrorist groups” which the government maintains are waging war against President Bashar Assad’s forces.

The military said it would continue its “war on terror” – government parlance for the battle against all groups trying to oust Mr Assad.

Israel appears to be striking at military convoys and installations in Syria at a quickening pace, maintaining it has the right to prevent authorities in Damascus from transferring weapons across the border to the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group.

Hezbollah is a staunch ally of the Syrian government, which is mired in a six-year-long civil war, and also an avowed enemy of Israel.

Israeli intelligence minister Yisrael Katz would not comment on the incident but said any similar strike would be in line with established policy to interrupt weapons transfers “It matches our declared policy, a policy that we also implement,” Mr Katz said. FIREFIGHTERS tackling a blaze at a house in the tropical Australian city of Darwin have had to contend with the added distraction of a 13ft pet crocodile.

The fire destroyed the two-storey house in the suburb of Fannie Bay, but did not harm the huge reptile, a female called Albert, which lives in a backyard enclosure.

Firefighter Bill Gleeson said: “Thankfully, the crocodile didn’t affect our operations at all.

“It’s well contained and clearly unaffected by fire. He seemed quite happy to look at me as I was protecting the premises.”

Wildlife ranger Tom Nichols said The pet had been living at the property since before crocodiles became a protected species under law in the early 1970s. Mr Gleeson said there was no-one in the house by the time firefighters arrived.