Damascus, April 9 (RHC)-- The Russian Defense Ministry says that two Israeli warplanes attacked a Syrian airbase in Homs, claiming the lives of at least 16 people and wounded many others.  

Syrian government agency SANA confirmed that the Tiyas airbase (T-4) in Homs was the target of the attack.  Multiple explosions were heard in the region after an aircraft entered from Lebanon, an RT report stated.

"On April 9, from 03:25 to 03:53 Moscow time, two Israeli Air Force F-15 jets, carried out an airstrike by two guided missiles on the T-4 airfield from the Lebanese territory and without entering Syria's airspace," Russian Defense Ministry said. 

“An aggression was perpetrated on the T-4 airbase in several strikes that is most likely to be an American attack,” Syria's state agency initially said. 

CNN cited an official who said the U.S. Pentagon outright denied the claim, stating Washington was not conducting airstrikes in Syria “at this time."  SANA later said that the Syrian air defense had responded to an assault by Israeli forces. 

The Syrian government media disclosed that anti-aircraft defense shot down eight missiles, reporting that there were multiple casualties in the missile attack on the Tiyas airbase.  Meanwhile, an Israeli spokesperson, who was asked about the air strike, declined to comment on the incident. 

The United States and Israel have, in the past, struck Syrian army locations, hitting convoys and bases. 

U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier on Sunday there would be a "big price to pay" after medical aid groups reported dozens of civilians, including many children and women, were allegedly killed by poison gas in a besieged rebel-held town.