Israel continues to attack military targets in Syria's Latakia and Tartus

According to RIA Novosti on December 16, local sources told the newspaper that on the evening of December 15, the Israeli Air Force attacked military targets in Syria's Latakia and Tartus provinces, and loud explosions were heard.

“Israeli warplanes carried out missile attacks on military targets in the provinces of Latakia and Tartus on the western coast of Syria. Powerful explosions were heard in the provinces of Tartus and Latakia,” the source said.

According to sources, the Israeli Air Force also carried out attacks on military targets in Hama and Homs provinces.

Earlier on December 9, Israeli aircraft carried out large-scale bombings on air bases, research centers and defense industrial facilities in various provinces of Syria. According to the statement, the Israeli army carried out at least 250 attacks on Syrian territory.

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Avichai Adraei told RIA Novosti on December 12 that Israel decided to destroy Syria's military potential to prevent the country from falling into the hands of extremist groups.

Syria’s Tartus and Latakia provinces are home to Russian military bases. Russian forces are present at the Khmeimim air base and a logistics support center in Tartus, located in western Syria along the Mediterranean coast. In 2017, Moscow and Damascus signed a deal to allow Russian troops to be stationed at the bases for 49 years.