Syrian air defence responds to 'Israeli missiles' — state media

DAMASCUS — Syrian air defence responded to Israeli missiles targeting the south and centre of the country, state media said early Thursday.

"Our air defence confronted an Israeli missile attack in the southwest of Quneitra province" in the south and also in a central region, SANA news agency said.

The short statement released after midnight did not provide details on the targets. Quneitra province is near the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes targeted two military airports in central Homs province and two areas in Quneitra province where pro-Damascus allies of Hizbollah are present.

But the Britain-based war monitor said there were no immediate reports of a death or any material damage.

Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria. 

SANA quoted a military source saying that at 12.30 am on Thursday (2230 GMT Wednesday) "our air defence observed Israeli warplane movement... Several missiles were fired towards the central region.

“The hostile missiles were immediately dealt with, and were successfully confronted, none was able to reach its target.”

In mid-February, Israeli strikes on Damascus Airport killed seven Syrian and Iranian fighters, according to the observatory.