Syria Says Israel Attacked A Target Near Aleppo

Iran's army chief of staff Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri (L) looks into binoculars, as he and other senior officers from the Iranian military visit a frontline in the northern province of Aleppo, October 20, 2017

Syrian government media said late Sunday that Israel had attacked a Syrian military position near Nairab airport, on the outskirts of Aleppo.

The official state news agency SANA quoted a military official saying, "The Zionist enemy ... targets one of our military sites north of Nairab airport, causing only material damage".

If true, this would be a rare attack so far north attributed to Israel. Although tensions are high in the south of Syria on the border with Israel, but Aleppo is hundreds of Kilometers north.

The Syrian source quoted by SANA claimed the strikes were an attempt by Israel to support rebels in southern Syria, where Syrian government forces have been waging an offensive.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said Monday that at least nine people were killed including at least six Syrians and that Iranian fighters were also stationed at the base.

An Israeli military spokesman declined to comment to Reuters on the Syrian report.

Israel has repeatedly voiced its concern about Iran's presence and growing influence in Syria, specially in the areas close to its borders.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP