Israel launches fresh airstrikes on Iranian positions in Syria

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said missiles struck Wadi al-Oyoun in the central province of Hama, near a scientific research centre which was already targeted by Israeli strikes in July and last year. 

Iranian military positions in the coastal region of Banias, in the province of Tartus, were also targeted, the Observatory added.

Twenty-three people were also injured - 14 Syrian and nine Iranians.

Syria's state news agency SANA said its air defence systems downed several missiles launched from Israeli warplanes.

"The air defence system responded to an Israeli aggression carried out by aircraft... that targeted some of our military positions in the provinces of Tartus and Hama," SANA said, quoting a military source.

A spokesman for the Israeli army refused to comment on the new raids, but an Israeli military official, in a rare confirmation, said the army had carried out some 200 strikes in Syria over the past 18 months against mainly Iranian targets.

The Jewish state has long warned about Iran's growing presence and influence in neighbouring Syria, where it backs President Bashar al-Assad. 

Israel has also conducted dozens of operations targeting arms deliveries that it says are aimed against its arch-rival the Lebanese Hizballah, which also backs the Assad regime.

Agencies contributed to this report. 

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