Big blast rocks Damascus' int'l airport

A big explosion rattled the surrounding area of the international airport of the capital Damascus early Thursday morning, eyewitnesses told Xinhua.

Following the blast, whose cause is still unclear, fire broke out near the airport, and lit up the sky over that area at dawn.

Several blasts were heard near the airport and that people near the southern part of Damascus, where the airport is located, woke up to the rattling sounds of explosions.

Russian media outlets said that the airport was struck by five Israeli airstrikes, whose targets are not clear. The airport has a military section which has warplanes and munition.

If confirmed, it would not be the first Israeli strike against Syria, as Israelis have ramped up their airstrikes on military positions in Syria recently, targeting a military base in Qunaitera province in the south this week, and a military position near the ancient city of Palmyra last month.