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Syria state television has confirmed its air defences are repelling attacks in the country’s Homs region. The military announced at around 1.10am local time (11.10pm GMT) that it had fired missiles towards the Shay’rat Airbase, to the south-east of Homs, and its surrounding area in the Homs Governorate. Local reporter Ibrahim Joudeh took to Twitter and posted a video of the missiles being shot at in the sky. He said: “Video shows Missile launched against unknown Target in Far East Damascus countryside."

Getty Syria attack: Anti-aircraft are responding to the attack

Mr Joudeh added shortly after that “another air defence missile was just launched”. According to local reports, several missiles were launched after “unknown warplanes” entered Syrian airspace from Lebanon. A military source added the Syrian military believes Israeli warplanes were responsible. Also a number of local reporters have said there are "Israeli warplanes" flying at high-altitude carrying out the attack after crossing the borders through Lebanon.

Anti-war protestors demonstrate against Syrian military strikes Mon, April 16, 2018 The Stop the War Coalition has organised a demonstration outside London's Houses of Parliament Play slideshow Sebastian Kettley 1 of 14 A demonstrator wears a Donald Trump mask to convey his distain for militiary action

It is currently unclear what the airstrike was targeting. Initial reports claim the raid is aimed at the T4 base, but others say it is aimed at Shyrat AB which was hit last year in the US Tomahawk attack. A source within the Syrian Army told local media site Al-Masdar that the T4 base was the operation’s “likely target”.

They added that several explosions were heard near the base. A statement from the Syrian regime added that several missiles were intercepted, but these reports are unconfirmed. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) declared that at least nine Israeli missiles were shot down.

There are currently no reports of targets hit in Damascus. Reports say six missiles have hit Shayrat air base in Homs and three missiles have hit Dumayr airbase, but these are unconfirmed so far. The attack comes after reports of covert airstrikes carried out by Israeli forces at Iranian bases in the Jabal Azzan region south of Aleppo.

Syria air strikes latest pictures: US, UK and France attack Damascus Sun, April 15, 2018 The United States, France and Britain have launched military strikes in Syria to punish President Bashar Assad for an apparent chemical attack against civilians and to deter him from doing it again. Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 24 The destroyed Scientific Research Centre is seen in Damascus

According to Amichai Stein, a correspondent for the Israeli public broadcasting corporation, the Syrian Ministry of Defence claimed it had intercepted 3 missiles “that struck Dumair military airport”. He explained: “Syrian MoD claims to have intercept three missiles that struck Dumair military Airport northeast of Damascus and six missiles launched towards Shayrat military Air Base in Homs.” The Pentagon has declared there is "no US military activity near Homs at this time".