Israel launched air strikes on the Syrian coastal city of Latakia early on Thursday, Syrian authorities said, as it intensifies raids on areas under the control of President Bashar Al Assad alongside its campaign against his ally Hezbollah. Latakia is near the Alawite Mountains, the heartland of the Alawite minority religious sect that has dominated power in Syria since a 1963 coup. Mr Al Assad has a palace near Latakia and many Alawite officers who control the security apparatus come from there. Syrian media outlets opposed to the regime said the target of the raid was a Hezbollah weapons depot, and that it was destroyed. Maher Al Assad heads the army's Fourth Mechanised Division, which has been helping Hezbollah, they said.

Source: Ethiopian News October 17, 2024 11:59 UTC