Israel strike hits major air base in central Syria, military sources say

Syrian air defences shot down Israeli missiles on Sunday that had targeted the southeast of Homs province, state news agency SANA said.

State television posted a short video of the "aggression" but gave no further details.

A Syrian source, who was not authorised to speak publicly, said that the strikes targeted Shayrat air base, a military complex southeast of Homs city, killing two soldiers and injuring three.

Its runway and underground facilities have undergone a major expansion by the Russia military in the last three years, he added.

Russia, which maintains a major military presence in Syria, has forces stationed near to Shayrat air base, which has also been used recently by the Iranian air force, another security source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Regional and intelligence sources say Israel has in recent months intensified strikes on Syrian airports and air bases to disrupt Iran's increasing use of aerial supply lines to deliver arms to allies in Syria and Lebanon including Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah.

The Israeli military was not immediately available for comment on the reports. Israel has been mounting attacks in Syria for years against what it has described as Iranian and Iran-backed forces that have deployed there during the 11-year war.