DAMASCUS, Apr 09 (Agencies): Syria and its Russian ally accused Israel on Monday of carrying out a deadly dawn bombing raid on a military airbase, as global outrage mounted over an alleged poison gas attack outside Damascus.
An early-morning strike on a Syrian government air base in the country's centre killed 14 fighters, including allied Iranian forces, a monitoring group said on Monday.
"At least 14 fighters were killed in the strike on the T-4 airport, among them Iranian forces," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor.
US President Donald Trump and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron had vowed a strong response to the suspected chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Douma and the UN Security Council was expected to discuss the crisis later on Monday.
Syrian state media reported "several missiles" had hit the T-4 base in central Syria just before dawn on Monday. Washington and Paris denied any involvement, and Damascus later blamed Israel.
"The Israeli attack on the T-4 airport was carried out with F-15 aircraft that fired several missiles from above Lebanese territory," state news agency SANA reported, quoting a military source.
The Russian army also accused Israel, saying two Israeli F-15s had fired eight missiles at the base and that five were destroyed by air defence systems but three hit a western part of the facility.
Meanwhile, China said Monday that it supports an investigation into a suspected chemical attack on the Syrian rebel-held town of Douma that has provoked global outrage.
US President Donald Trump and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron have vowed a strong response to the suspected poison gas attack, which left dozens dead, and the UN Security Council was expected to discuss the crisis later on Monday.
Syria blames Israel for deadly strikes on airbase
Beijing backs probe into chemical attack
FE Team | Published: April 09, 2018 21:29:11
Syria blames Israel for deadly strikes on airbase
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