Missile strike 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

“Any similar strike would be in line with policy”

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, which occupied Lebanon for nearly two decades.

Israeli intelligence minister Yisrael Katz would not comment directly on the incident but said any similar strike would be in line with established policy to interrupt weapons transfers.

“It absolutely matches our declared policy, a policy that we also implement,” Mr Katz told Israel’s Army Radio.

Russia has denounced what it called “aggression” against Syria in the wake of the attack.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova did not directly blame Israel for the strike, but cited Syrian media as saying Israel was responsible.