Israel ‘bombs Iran arms ship’

Israel conducted a rare attack on Syria’s main port on Tuesday, hitting shipping containers, according to Damascus.

A fire near containers in the Syrian port of Latakia. Picture: AFP/ HO / SANA

Israel conducted a rare attack on Syria’s main port on Tuesday, hitting shipping containers, according to Damascus.

Explosions lit up the sky over Latakia, on the sliver of Mediterranean coast belonging to Syria between Lebanon and Turkey.

Israel made no comment, in line with its usual policy for conducting raids outside its borders.

However, it has admitted in general terms that its air force has conducted hundreds of raids, by jets and drones, in Syria in recent years. Its aim is to limit the use of Syrian territory by Iran to supply missiles and other weapons to militia forces targeting Israel.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitor based in Britain, said the attack had struck an Iranian weapons shipment. Latakia is usually out of bounds for attacks because it is regarded as firmly within the Russian sphere of influence.

The Times