Israeli missile attack sets ablaze Syrian seaport

Damascus: A fresh Israeli missile attack targeted the commercial seaport of Syria's coastal city of Latakia before dawn on Tuesday, state media reported.

The Israelis fired their missiles from the Mediterranean against the commercial port and key cargo hub of Latakia, hitting the container terminal and igniting a fire, Xinhua news agency quoted the state media report as saying.

The attack caused big damage as firefighters are working to put out the fire, it added.

It is the second such attack on the port this month. The previous one was reported on December 7.

Since the outbreak of Syria's civil war in 2011, Israel has regularly made air strikes on Syria, most of them aimed at government troops and Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters.

Israel usually fires missiles on Syria on the pretext that it targets positions of the Iranian-backed militia, mainly those affiliated with the Lebanese Hezbollah group.

But when asked about reports on the latest air strike, an Israeli Army spokesman told AFP that they don't comment on reports in foreign media.

The news agency also mentioned that pictures released by SANA showed firefighters training hoses on stacks of blazing containers that lit up the night sky.

The containers were reported too be carrying 'engine oil and spare parts for cars and other vehicles'.

(With inputs from agencies)