Israeli warplanes strike Syrian military base outside Damascus

Israeli warplanes fired several missiles at a military base in al-Qutaifa, located outside Damascus, before daybreak on Wednesday, according to media reports.

The Israeli jets launched the strikes from Lebanese airspace at 3:42am local time, which triggered Syria's air defence systems.

"Our air defence systems blocked them and destroyed most of them," said a statement from the Syrian army.

"The general command of the armed forces holds Israel fully responsible for the dangerous consequences of its repeated, aggressive and uncalculated adventures," the statement added.

Israeli military spokespersons declined to comment to Reuters and other outlets.

But according to The Times of Israel, the strike destroyed an arms depot, with the Syrian defence systems intercepting at least two of the five missiles fired.

Since the Syrian war began in 2012, Israel has struck Syrian arms convoys nearly 100 times. The country views Hizballah - which is Iranian-backed and an ally of the Syrian regime - as its bigest border threat. 

Israel has grown alarmed over Iran's growing clout in Syria.

Just last month, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu flew to Moscow to press Russian President Vladimir Putin about maintaining Israel's freedom of action in both Syrian and Lebanese airspace.