A MASSIVE blast has reportedly destroyed a a Syrian air defence base near the coastal city of Latakia with multiple Syrian and Lebanese sources speculating that an Israeli strike from the Mediterranean was to blame.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported a loud explosion in a Syrian army base, and Twitter users quoted eyewitnesses who said the blast occurred near Snobar Jableh, just south of the city, The Times of Israel reported.

Unconfirmed reports suggested the explosion was the result of a missile strike from the sea. And social media came alight with posts alleging that Israel was responsible.

The Lebanese government news agency reported six Israeli aircraft flying through Lebanese airspace along the coast north of Beirut yesterday.

On September 6, 2007, at least four low-flying Israeli Air Force fighters crossed into Syrian airspace and carried out a secret bombing mission on the banks of the Euphrates River, about 150km north of the Iraq border.

The incursion into Syria came which came after months of heightened tension between Israel and Syria over military exercises and troop buil-ups by both sides along the Golan Heights.

Originally published as Huge blast 'destroys defence base'