Syrian regime claims to intercept missiles over Homs

By Mohamed Misto

ISTANBUL

Syrian air defenses intercepted several missiles that penetrated its airspace late Monday over the city of Homs, Syria’s SANA news agency reported.

According to websites affiliated with the Syrian regime, Syrian air-defense systems also picked up unidentified objects in the skies over capital Damascus, prompting speculation of a possible Israeli attack.

No party, however, has claimed responsibility for the reported missile attack.

Some pro-regime websites reported that the missiles had targeted two strategic airbases: the Ad-Dumayr military airbase northeast of Damascus and the Shayrat military airbase in Homs.

According to these sources, Syrian air defenses intercepted most of the missiles fired at Shayrat and all of the missiles fired at Ad-Dumayr.

The reported barrages come three days after a major missile attack by the U.S., U.K. France on regime positions in Syria.

The tripartite attack was in ostensible retaliation for an alleged chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime on the Syrian city of Douma, which is said to have killed scores of civilians.