Israel targets 'Iranian' military base in Syria

Last month there were claims that Iran was building a permanent military base in the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly warned he would not allow Iran to establish any military presence in Syria.

UK-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights earlier reported explosions near Damascus on Saturday morning which it said were caused by a suspected Israeli missile attack.

Israel has previously targeted weapons sites in a bid to prevent arms being transferred to Syria's Lebanese ally Hezbollah.

Arms convoys in particular have been singled out by the Israeli air force.

Last month Israel's chief of staff, Lt. Gen.Gadi Eisenkot, said: "Our demand is for Iran and its militias to retreat from Syria. 

“We have said openly, and also quietly and secretly too, that we will not accept Iranian consolidation in Syria."