Syrian and Russian air defenses confronted a suspected Israeli attack early on 3 October that reportedly hit warehouses near Russia's Hmeimim airbase in the western Latakia governorate.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported, “Unknown drones … carried out airstrikes targeting an ammunition warehouse near Jablah city in Latakia countryside, near the largest Russian air base in Syria, which led to the warehouse’s destruction and huge explosions heard from far away.”
SOHR said it was not clear whether the drones were launched from inside Syrian territory or from the sea. According to local reports, drones, warplanes, and warships conducted the violent attack.
Warships and warplanes were present in the sea and skies, “believed to be Israeli,” SOHR added. “The air defenses of the [Syrian] regime and Russian forces confronting the missiles for more than 40 minutes.”
The warehouse is located near the Hmeimim airbase in western Syria. Hmeimim is the largest Russian base in the country.
An Israeli air raid hit the Mezzeh neighborhood in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on 2 October. Three civilians were killed and several injured, according to Syrian news agency SANA.
A day earlier, Israeli airstrikes targeted several areas in Damascus, killing several, including prominent Syrian journalist Safaa Ahmad.