Israel hits Syrian air bases, destroying dozens of helicopters, planes: Syrian security

Israeli planes bombed at least three major Syrian army air bases that housed dozens of helicopters and jets in the biggest such wave of strikes on air bases since Bashar al-Assad was toppled, two Syrian security sources said.

Qamishli air base in north east Syria, Shinshar base in the countryside of Homs and Aqrba airport southwest of the capital Damascus were all hit, the sources said.

It has also waged several strikes on a research center on the outskirts of Damascus and a center for electronic warfare near Sayeda Zainab area of the capital.

This comes after reports of at least two explosions heard in Damascus Monday night in the area of Barzeh, near Damascus, where the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center has an office, three witnesses in the neighborhood said.

The SSRC has been sanctioned and previously struck for its links to chemical weapons production under toppled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah group condemned on Monday increased Israeli strikes on Syria and said it stood by the country’s people, in its first comment since opposition forces overthrew the group’s ally former President Bashar al-Assad.

Hezbollah lambasted Israel for “occupying more land in the Golan Heights” where it moved troops into a buffer zone after Assad fell, and for “striking and destroying the defensive capabilities of the Syrian state”. “While we affirm our support for Syria and its people, we stress the necessity to preserve Syria’s unity,” it added.