Syrian air defences intercept Israeli attack over Homs: state media

Syria's air defences early on Thursday intercepted an Israeli attack on the Al-Qusair area in Homs, Syrian state media reported.

A Syrian military source said in a statement there was some material damage from the strike and no casualties.

The Israeli military said it had no comment.

Residents of northern Lebanon said they heard the Israeli jets and explosions in Syria, as videos that went viral on social media showed some rockets had landed in at least two villages. These are believed to be from Syria's air defences.

No casualties were reported and the videos showed some material damage in the roads.

On Monday, Syria said it had intercepted an attack on Aleppo.

Homs province adjoins Lebanon, where the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shia Hezbollah group holds sway along the rugged border area.

Western intelligence sources have said Israel's stepped-up strikes on Syria since last year are part of a shadow war approved by the United States.

The strikes are also part of an anti-Iran policy that in the past two years has undermined Iran's extensive military power without starting a major increase in hostilities.