Syrian army says it intercepted Israeli missiles

Syrian air defences responded to an Israeli missile attack on south of the capital Damascus. The sounds of Syrian anti-air weapons were heard in Damascus following the attack on Wednesday night.

Damascus:The Syrian army's air defences responded to an Israeli missile attack on several targets south of the capital Damascus late Wednesday, Syria's military said.

A military official said the air defences shot down several missiles before they hit their targets.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said Israel struck positions in the southern province of Sweida, adding that there were casualties. It did not say how many.

There was no immediate word from the Israeli side.

In the past few years, Israel has acknowledged carrying out dozens of airstrikes in Syria, most of them aimed at suspected Iranian weapons shipments believed to be bound for Lebanon's Hezbollah.

In recent months, Israeli officials have expressed concern that Hezbollah is trying to establish production facilities to make precision- guided missiles.

AP