Syria’s Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday that it had thwarted a "terrorist" plot by loyalists of the former Bashar al-Assad regime, who were attempting to bomb a church in the coastal province of Tartus.

Editor's note: Russian military-political analyst, expert in the field of strategic security, specialist in the Middle East and Africa Vladimir Bekish. The article expresses the personal opinion of the author and may not coincide with the view of News.Az.

The number of civilian casualties as a result of military action between the transitional government forces and rebels in the Syrian provinces of Latakia, Tartus and Homs has increased from 532 to 830 in one day.

Israeli airstrikes reportedly targeted military sites in Syria’s coastal Tartus region on late Sunday, with a Syrian war monitor describing the attacks as “the heaviest strikes” in the area in more than ten years.

Syria’s armed opposition has reportedly gained full control of the Latakia province, which hosts Russian military bases, according to a local source.

Syrian air defenses successfully intercepted two Israeli missiles over Tartus on Tuesday, News.Az reports citing foreign media.