Syria air base attack: 14 killed, including Iranian forces

Russian forces, as well as fighters from the Tehran-backed Lebanese Hizballah militia, are also known to have a presence at the air base in Homs province, according to head of the Syrian Observatory for Human rights Rami Abdel Rahman. 

Early Monday, Syria's state news agency reported that missiles struck the base known as Tiyas airport.

The agency said it was likely an act of "American aggression," however the Pentagon denied involvement.

The missile attack followed a suspected poison gas attack on Saturday on the last remaining foothold for the Syrian opposition in the eastern suburbs of Damascus. At least 100 people were killed, including families found in their homes and shelters, opposition activists and local rescuers said.

SANA news agency reported that the missile attack on the T4 military air base in Homs province resulted in a number of casualties, without giving details.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump had promised a "big price to pay" for the suspected chemical attack on Douma. After the airstrikes were reported, however, Pentagon spokesman Christopher Sherwood said in a statement: "At this time, the Department of Defense is not conducting air strikes in Syria."

The US launched several dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian air base last year after a chemical attack in the northern Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun killed dozens of people. Israel has also struck inside Syria in recent years.

The Syrian conflict began when the Baath regime, in power since 1963 and led by Assad, responded with military force to peaceful protests demanding democratic reforms during the Arab Spring wave of uprisings, triggering an armed rebellion fuelled by mass defections from the Syrian army.

According to independent monitors, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed in the war, mostly by the regime and its powerful allies, and millions have been displaced both inside and outside of Syria. 

The brutal tactics pursued mainly by the regime, which have included the use of chemical weapons, sieges, mass executions and torture against civilians have led to war crimes investigations.