Syria accuses Israel of bombing outpost near Damascus

April 27 (UPI) -- A Syrian regime official said Israel targeted a military position southwest of the Damascus International Airport on Thursday, causing damage.

The Syrian military official said the airstrikes damaged a fuel tank and warehouses but did not say if there were casualties, state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported. The official said Israel launched the attack to boost the morale of terrorists -- the umbrella term for any force fighting against President Bashar al-Assad's regime, which includes rebels and the Islamic State.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group reported a source said a huge explosion shook the airport and that the airstrikes may have struck a weapons depot near the airport that is believed to belong to Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Israel said the explosion was "consistent" with its policy to prevent Iran smuggling weapons to Hezbollah but stopped short of claiming responsibility for the bombing. Iran, Russia and Hezbollah support Assad's regime.

"I can confirm that the incident in Syria corresponds completely with Israel's policy to act to prevent Iran's smuggling of advanced weapons via Syria to Hezbollah in Iran. Naturally, I don't want to elaborate on this," Israeli Intelligence Minister Israel Katz told Israeli Army Radio. "The prime minister has said that whenever we receive intelligence that indicated an intention to transfer advanced weapons to Hezbollah, we will act."

Syria has been blighted by a complex civil war in which the Islamic State, the Syrian government and multiple Syrian rebel groups fight for control of territory. The upcoming cease-fire agreement does not include the Islamic State.