Syrian soldier killed, three wounded in Israeli strike near Damascus

"Today at 01:30 (22:30 GMT) the Israeli enemy carried out an air aggression with missile bursts from northern Galilee, targeting a unit of our air defence forces in the Nabi Habeel area," the military source said.

"Our air defence countered some of the missiles, which caused one martyr and wounded three soldiers."

Hezbollah positions near the town of Zabadani close to the Lebanese border were also targeted in the strike, according to the Britain-based monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Israel refused to confirm or deny the strike.

"We do not comment on foreign media reports," an army spokesperson told AFP.

Israel has launched hundreds of strikes in Syria since the start of the civil war in 2011.

It has targeted government troops, allied Iranian forces and fighters from Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

It rarely confirms details of its operations in Syria, but says Iran's presence in support of President Bashar al-Assad is a threat to which it will continue to respond.

Agencies contributed to this report.

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