Israeli Occupation air strikes hit the Syrian port of Latakia early Tuesday, according to Syrian state media, in a rare attack targeting key facilities.

"Around 1:23am today (2323 GMT Monday), the Israeli [Occupation] enemy carried out an air aggression with several missiles," SANA news agency quoted a military source as saying.

"Our air defences repelled the Israeli [Occupation] aggression in Latakia."

The attack targeted the port's container yard, causing a number of containers to catch fire but without causing casualties, it said.

Photos published by SANA showed a fire in the yard but Syrian state television said later that firefighters had got the blaze under control.

The Israeli Occupation has said repeatedly it will not allow neighbouring Syria to become a launchpad for its foe Iran.