Israel Accused Of Bombing Near Damascus Airport, Damascus-Beirut Highway

Syria's official SANA news agency Sunday accused Israel of conducting bombing strikes near Damascus airport and also targeting the Damascus-Beirut highway on the Syrian-Lebanese border near Dimas, two areas under government control. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Hezbollah's official television station al-Manar backed up SANA's allegation.

Military officials said the airstrikes were in retaliation for recent government victories. No casualties were reported.

There was no immediate response from Israeli officials.

"This aggression confirms the direct involvement of Israel in support of terrorism in Syria, as well as Western and regional countries known to raise the morale of terrorist organizations," the Syrian General Command said in a statement posted by SANA. The statement said the bombing was in support of the Islamic State group and Al Qaeda-linked rebels.

The General Command vowed such attacks would not be deter the Syrian military "from continuing its war against terrorism in all its forms, tools and tentacles in the entire territory of the country."

Al-Manar reported the Syrian military fired surface-to-air missiles at the Israeli aircraft. Al-Manar quoted the Syrian Observatory as reporting the airport raid targeted an import-export warehouse and military targets on the outskirts of Damascus. Ynetnews quoted the human rights organization as saying 10 explosions were heard.

The DebkaFile reported the warehouse had been bombed in the past by Israel to destroy advanced weapons shipments headed for Hezbollah. According to the Jerusalem Post, the strikes were aimed at S-300 missile launchers bound for Hezbollah.

DebkaFile quoted Syrian and Lebanese sources saying Israel has conducted at least 10 airstrikes since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011. The most recent was in March against military posts near Quneitra, on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights.

Syrian state television also announced the airstrikes, alleging that Israel had "committed aggression against Syria by targeting two safe areas in Damascus province, in all of Dimas and near the Damascus International Airport."

Several purported videos of Sunday's airstrikes have been uploaded on YouTube.