Explosion at Syrian missile defense system kills 11

Times of Israel:

Massive explosions rocked the Hama military air base in western Syrian early on Friday afternoon, killing at least 11 pro-Assad regime fighters, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Syrian state media confirmed that blasts were heard coming from the base, but made no comment on casualties or the cause of the explosions.

There were conflicting reports as to what set off the blasts, which sent a huge plume of grey smoke into the air above the base.

“The explosions struck several regime depots of weapons and fuel at Hama military airport,” the Observatory said.

Syrians in Hama reported hearing at least five successive blasts, likely indicating that fuel depots and weapons caches had been hit by the blast, setting off a daisy-chain of explosions.

At least 11 members of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad’s coaltion were killed and dozens more were wounded in the mysterious blasts, according to the monitor.

According to the Observatory, both Syrians and foreign nationals were among the casualties.

The Sky News Arabia outlet reported that the explosions were caused by an attack on an advanced Iranian air defense system.

However, Syrian military sources told the Lebanese el-Nashra TV station that the blasts were caused by a “technical malfunction” at a weapons storage depot.
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The timing of the explosions is inconsistent with that of an Israeli strike which usually takes place after dark or early in the morning.  A screw up by the Syrian crew looks like a plausible explanation.