CNN is reporting that a White House official has confirmed that Israeli warplanes struck a military base near the Syrian city of Latakia this morning.
Israeli officials have refused to comment.
Al Arabiya also reports the story, citing "exclusive sources":
Israel was behind a series of explosions that rocked a Syrian air base in the northern Latakia province, Al Arabiya television reported on Thursday, quoting exclusive sources.Initial rumors claim that the target was Russian SA-8 missiles en route to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The bombing targeted a shipment of surface-to-air missiles (SAM) that was headed for Hezbollah in Lebanon, the sources said.
Naharnet says:
Another security official said that the attack occurred in the port city of Latakia and that the target was Russian-made SA-125 missiles.There is a good reason Israel stays mum on events like this - because acknowledging them opens up the possibility of widening the conflict in Syria.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the attack.
For an administration that prides itself on extricating itself from wars, it sure looks like it likes to try to start them as well.