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Damascus military facilities 'hit by Israel rockets' Damascus military facilities 'hit by Israel rockets'
(35 minutes later)
Israeli rockets have hit a research centre near Damascus, Syria says. Syria has accused Israel of launching rocket attacks on Damascus, after a night of huge explosions near the city.
Witnesses heard huge explosions near the Jamraya facility, which Western officials have suggested is involved in chemical weapons research. Syrian state media said the rockets hit the Jamraya research centre, which Western officials have suggested is involved in chemical weapons research.
Residents told the BBC that nearby military positions were also hit. Israeli radio quoted a senior security official confirming an attack, and sources said it targeted weapons bound for Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
Israel has not confirmed the strike, but sources say it targeted weapons bound for Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. It is the second suspected Israeli strike in two days. It is the second suspected Israeli strike in Syria in two days.
On Friday Israeli aircraft hit a shipment of missiles in Syria, according to unnamed US and Israeli officials. On Friday Israeli aircraft hit a shipment of missiles near the Lebanon border, according to unnamed US and Israeli officials.
Israel has repeatedly said it would act if it felt advanced weapons were being transferred to militant groups in the region, especially Hezbollah. The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says Israel's intervention is a very dangerous development.
He says Israel will not want to be seen as being involved in the conflict, but Syria's state media is hammering the message that the rebels are working hand in glove with Israel.
A state TV bulletin said: "The new Israeli attack is an attempt to raise the morale of the terrorist groups, which have been reeling from strikes by our noble army."
'Mild earthquake''Mild earthquake'
Heavy explosions shook Damascus overnight. Amateur footage posted online claimed to show the blasts at the Jamraya research centre. Damascus was shaken by repeated explosions coming from the north-western suburbs.
Syrian state media said the attack showed that there was an organic link between Israel and the rebels. Amateur video footage and eye witness testimony suggested rocket attacks had hit weapons dumps, triggering dramatic orange-flamed blasts.
"The new Israeli attack is an attempt to raise the morale of the terrorist groups, which have been reeling from strikes by our noble army," state TV said, referring to recent offensives by President Bashar al-Assad's forces. The area houses numerous military facilities, including the Jamraya research centre, designated by Syria as a scientific research centre "in charge of raising our level of resistance and self-defence".
Damascus-based journalist Alaa Ebrahim told the BBC it was "the biggest explosion" the city had seen since the conflict began two years ago.Damascus-based journalist Alaa Ebrahim told the BBC it was "the biggest explosion" the city had seen since the conflict began two years ago.
He said residents living near Jamraya reported feeling a "mild earthquake" just before the blast, indicating that the rockets may have hit an underground facility.He said residents living near Jamraya reported feeling a "mild earthquake" just before the blast, indicating that the rockets may have hit an underground facility.
He added that the Syrian army was likely to have suffered major casualties in the attack.He added that the Syrian army was likely to have suffered major casualties in the attack.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights quoted eyewitnesses in the area as saying they saw jets in the sky at the time of the explosions.The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights quoted eyewitnesses in the area as saying they saw jets in the sky at the time of the explosions.
The Jamraya facility, designated by Syria as a scientific research centre "in charge of raising our level of resistance and self-defence", was also apparently hit in an Israeli air strike in January. The Jamraya facility was also apparently hit in an Israeli air strike in January.
Israeli officials confirmed the strike, but insisted it had targeted trucks carrying missiles to Hezbollah. Israeli officials confirmed the January strike, but insisted it had targeted trucks carrying missiles to Hezbollah.
After the latest attack, unnamed Western intelligence sources have again said the target was a weapons cache heading for Lebanon.After the latest attack, unnamed Western intelligence sources have again said the target was a weapons cache heading for Lebanon.
Israel has repeatedly said it would act if it felt advanced weapons were being transferred to militant groups in the region, especially Hezbollah.
'Horrific reports''Horrific reports'
Analysts say the air strikes are unlikely to have a major effect on the civil war in Syria.Analysts say the air strikes are unlikely to have a major effect on the civil war in Syria.
The latest reports from coastal regions around the town of Baniyas suggest dozens of Sunnis have been massacred in a campaign of sectarian cleansing.The latest reports from coastal regions around the town of Baniyas suggest dozens of Sunnis have been massacred in a campaign of sectarian cleansing.
The government said it had pushed back "terrorist groups" and restored security to the area.The government said it had pushed back "terrorist groups" and restored security to the area.
The US said it was "appalled by the horrific reports" but that it did not foresee sending US troops to Syria.The US said it was "appalled by the horrific reports" but that it did not foresee sending US troops to Syria.
However, the US is no longer ruling out supplying weapons to the rebels.However, the US is no longer ruling out supplying weapons to the rebels.
More than 70,000 people are estimated to have been killed since the conflict erupted in March 2011.More than 70,000 people are estimated to have been killed since the conflict erupted in March 2011.