Two civilians killed in Israeli Occupation strikes near Syrian capital

Israeli Occupation missile strikes killed at least two civilians before dawn on Monday near the Syrian capital Damascus, state media reported.

The Israeli Occupation carried out the strikes at around 5:00 a.m. (0300 GMT), hitting positions south of the capital, Syria's official SANA news agency said, citing a military source.

"Our air defense systems intercepted the missiles, downing most of them," SANA added.

"Two civilians were killed and some material damage was incurred," it said, without elaborating.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes hit "a weapons and ammunition depot operated by Iran-backed rebels near the Damascus international airport."

The war monitor, which relies on an extensive network of sources inside Syria, said it could not confirm civilian fatalities.

According to the Observatory, the Israeli Occupation has carried out raids in Syria at least seven times since the start of the year.

Last month, Israeli Occupation raids near the capital killed two Syrian soldiers and four Iran-backed fighters, the Observatory says.

Since civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, the Israeli Occupation has carried out hundreds of air strikes inside the country, targeting government positions as well as allied Iran-backed forces and fighters of the Shiite movement Hezbollah.

While the Israeli Occupation rarely comments on individual strikes in Syria, it has acknowledged mounting hundreds since 2011.