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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'Israel rockets' hit Damascus military site | 'Israel rockets' hit Damascus military site |
| (37 minutes later) | |
| Syrian state TV says Israeli rockets have hit a military research centre on the outskirts of the capital Damascus. | Syrian state TV says Israeli rockets have hit a military research centre on the outskirts of the capital Damascus. |
| Huge explosions have been heard in the Mount Qassioun area of the city. The research centre there was the target of a Israeli strike in January. | Huge explosions have been heard in the Mount Qassioun area of the city. The research centre there was the target of a Israeli strike in January. |
| Earlier, Israeli officials speaking on condition of anonymity said that on Friday Israeli aircraft had attacked a shipment of missiles inside Syria. | |
| The missiles were believed to be destined for Lebanon's Hezbollah. | The missiles were believed to be destined for Lebanon's Hezbollah. |
| Heavy explosions shook Damascus overnight. Amateur footage posted online claimed to show the explosion near the Jamraya military research facility, with a huge ball of fire seen rising into the night sky. | |
| "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," Syrian state TV said, referring to recent offensives by President Bashar al-Assad's forces against rebels. | "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," Syrian state TV said, referring to recent offensives by President Bashar al-Assad's forces against rebels. |
| There was no immediate comment from Israeli officials on the latest explosions. | There was no immediate comment from Israeli officials on the latest explosions. |
| "We don't respond to this kind of report," an Israeli army spokeswoman told Reuters news agency. | |
| Red line | |
| Earlier, unnamed US-based Israeli officials confirmed Israel had launched an air strike inside Syria, targeting a consignment of missiles bound for Lebanon's Hezbollah on Friday. | |
| Israel has repeatedly said it would act if it felt Syrian weapons, conventional or chemical, were being transferred to militant groups in the region, especially Hezbollah, the BBC's Wyre Davies, in Jerusalem, reports. | |
| Earlier this week, Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon acknowledged that Israel had already launched an air strike in January against a Syrian target, identified by previous reports as the Jamraya military research centre. | |
| Mr Yaalon said that the transfer of sophisticated weapons to radical militant groups like Hezbollah was a red line, and Israel had acted when it was crossed. | |
| Syrian forces and rebels have been fighting around Damascus for months but with neither side gaining the upper hand. | Syrian forces and rebels have been fighting around Damascus for months but with neither side gaining the upper hand. |
| More than 70,000 people have been killed since the conflict erupted in March 2011. | More than 70,000 people have been killed since the conflict erupted in March 2011. |