14 killed in Israeli airstrike on Syrian airbase

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Syria and Russia are accusing Israel of targeting a military base where Iranians were stationed.

Russia's Defense Ministry claims the T4 airbase in Syria's Homs province was attacked early Monday by two Israeli F-15 warplanes, according to NBC.

The aircraft reportedly approached from the Mediterranean Sea and fired eight missiles from Lebanese airspace.

Syrian air defense systems shot down five of the missiles. The remaining three hit the western part of the base, killing 14 people. According to the head of British-based monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, most of those who died were Iranian or members of Iran-backed groups.

The missile raid came just hours after a deadly poison gas attack killed at least 40 people in a rebel-held stronghold near Damascus.

Syrian media initially suspected the U.S. to be behind the airstrike, following threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to make the Syrian government pay for the poisoning, but the Pentagon has since denied any involvement.

RUNDOWN SHOWS:
1. Location of T4 air base in Syria, Israeli F-15
2. Depiction of Israeli F-15s launching eight missiles
3. Depiction of Syrian air defense systems shooting down five missiles
4. Depiction of missiles striking air base, killing 14

VOICEOVER (in English):

"Russia's Defense Ministry claims the T4 airbase in Syria's Homs province was attacked early Monday by two Israeli F-15 warplanes."

"The aircraft reportedly approached from the Mediterranean Sea and fired eight missiles from Lebanese airspace."

"Syrian air defense systems shot down five of the missiles."

"The remaining three hit the western part of the base, killing 14 people, most of whom were Iranian or members of Iran-backed groups."

SOURCES:
NBC, New York Times, USA Today

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