A missile attack targeting government outposts in Syria’s northern region has killed 26 pro-government fighters, mostly Iranians, a Syria war monitoring group says.
Iranian media gave conflicting reports about the incident amid speculation it was carried out by neighbouring Israel.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the late Sunday night attack appears to have been carried out by Israel and targeted an arms depot for surface-to-surface missiles at a base in northern Syria known as Brigade 47. The Observatory said four Syrians were also among casualties.
It said the death toll could rise as the attack also wounded 60 fighters and there were several others are still missing.
Iranian state television, citing Syrian media, reported the attack.
However, an Iranian semi-official news agency denied reports that Iranian fighters were killed or that Iranian-run bases were hit. The Tasnim news agency quoted an unnamed Iranian informed official in its report but did not elaborate on the denial.
Another semi-official news agency, ISNA, said the strike killed 18 Iranians, including a commander, in a suburb of the central city of Hama. It cited “local sources and activists” for its report.
The missiles targeted buildings and centers which likely include a weapons depot, ISNA reported.
Syria, Iran and Russia blamed Israel for that T4 attack. Israel did not confirm or deny it.
Read the report by Bassem Mroue in The Australian. (subscription required).