AIRSTRIKES

Russian military says Israeli war planes struck Syrian air base

Syria Fear In Raqqa The remains of buildings line a street that was damaged last summer during fighting between US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces fighters and Islamic State militants, in Raqqa, Syria | AP

The Russian military said on Monday that two Israeli F-15 war planes had carried out strikes on a Syrian air base on Sunday, the Interfax news agency reported.

Interfax cited the Russian Defence Ministry as saying the Israeli war planes had carried out the strikes from Lebanese air space, and that Syrian air defence systems had shot down five of eight missiles fired.

Asked about the Russian statement, an Israeli military spokesman said he had no immediate comment.

Syrian state TV said on Monday the United States was suspected of striking an air base hours after US President Donald Trump warned of a “big price to pay” as aid groups said dozens of people were killed by poison gas in a rebel-held town.