Defence, research facilities targeted; Israeli military destroys Hezbollah rocket launchers in south Lebanon
Israel bombed Syrian army positions south of Aleppo later on Thursday, the latest such strikes since the overthrow of longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad, a war monitor and local residents said.
Residents reported hearing huge explosions in the area, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes targeted defence and research facilities.
The observatory said that "at least seven massive explosions were heard, resulting from an Israeli airstrike on defence factories... south of Aleppo."
There was no immediate information on whether the strikes caused any casualties.
A resident of the al-Safira area told AFP on condition of anonymity: "They hit defence factories, five strikes... The strikes were very strong. It made the ground shake, doors and windows opened -- the strongest strikes I ever heard... It turned the night into day."
Since rebels overthrew Assad in early December, Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes on Syrian military assets, saying they are aimed at preventing military weapons from falling into hostile hands.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah rocket launchers in south Lebanon later on Thursday, despite a fragile ceasefire with the militant group.
The truce, which took effect on November 27, has been marked by mutual accusations of violations from both sides.
The Israeli military said Thursday's strike targeted medium-range rocket launchers in the Nabatieh area.
Lebanon's official National News Agency reported at least three Israeli strikes in the area.
"Prior to the strike a request was sent to the Lebanese armed forces to neutralise the launchers that posed a threat to Israeli civilians and... troops," the military said in a statement. "The launchers were struck only after the request was not addressed by the Lebanese armed forces."
Under the terms of the ceasefire, the Lebanese army is to deploy alongside UN peacekeepers in the south as the Israeli army withdraws over a 60-day period.
Hezbollah is to withdraw its forces north of the Litani River -- some 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border -- and dismantle its military infrastructure in the south.
Israel bombed Syrian army positions south of Aleppo later on Thursday, the latest such strikes since the overthrow of longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad, a war monitor and local residents said.
Residents reported hearing huge explosions in the area, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes targeted defence and research facilities.
The observatory said that "at least seven massive explosions were heard, resulting from an Israeli airstrike on defence factories... south of Aleppo."
There was no immediate information on whether the strikes caused any casualties.
A resident of the al-Safira area told AFP on condition of anonymity: "They hit defence factories, five strikes... The strikes were very strong. It made the ground shake, doors and windows opened -- the strongest strikes I ever heard... It turned the night into day."
Since rebels overthrew Assad in early December, Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes on Syrian military assets, saying they are aimed at preventing military weapons from falling into hostile hands.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah rocket launchers in south Lebanon later on Thursday, despite a fragile ceasefire with the militant group.
The truce, which took effect on November 27, has been marked by mutual accusations of violations from both sides.
The Israeli military said Thursday's strike targeted medium-range rocket launchers in the Nabatieh area.
Lebanon's official National News Agency reported at least three Israeli strikes in the area.
"Prior to the strike a request was sent to the Lebanese armed forces to neutralise the launchers that posed a threat to Israeli civilians and... troops," the military said in a statement. "The launchers were struck only after the request was not addressed by the Lebanese armed forces."
Under the terms of the ceasefire, the Lebanese army is to deploy alongside UN peacekeepers in the south as the Israeli army withdraws over a 60-day period.
Hezbollah is to withdraw its forces north of the Litani River -- some 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border -- and dismantle its military infrastructure in the south.