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US Officials: Israel Strikes Syrian Military Base




U.S. officials say Israeli warplanes have attacked a Syrian military base near the port city of Latakia.

The officials, speaking to U.S. media Thursday on condition of anonymity, say the target likely was Russian missiles that Israel fears were to be transferred to the Islamic militant group Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has been backing the Syrian government in its civil war against the rebels.

Israeli military officials refused to comment on the reported strike. Israeli is reported to have attacked Syrian targets at least two other times this year.



Also Thursday, the international watchdog overseeing Syria's destruction of its chemical arsenal says the country has met a deadline to destroy equipment used to make the weapons.

The next step for Syria is detailing how it will destroy its chemical weapons stockpile by the middle of 2014. Syria agreed earlier this year to turn over its entire stockpile of chemical weapons to the United Nations for destruction, or face a likely U.S. military strike.

The human rights group Amnesty International issued a report Thursday calling on Syria's neighbors, particularly Jordan, to ensure that refugees can freely enter those countries and not be forcibly sent back to Syria.

The group highlighted efforts that Syria's neighbors have made to host more than 2 million people forced to flee the war and the immense strain that has created on providing services. But Amnesty says Jordan is placing "undue restrictions" on who can enter the country.
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