At least 14 people have been killed and 43 others wounded in Israeli air strikes targeting military sites in central Syria, according to the Syrian state news agency, Sana. The attacks occurred near Masyaf, in Hama province, late Sunday night. A local hospital director confirmed the casualty numbers, while a Syrian military source reported that Israeli aircraft launched missiles from over north-western Lebanon around 23:20 local time (20:20 GMT). Syrian air defenses reportedly intercepted some of the missiles.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based group monitoring the conflict, said 13 explosions were heard in the area, which houses military research facilities and pro-Iranian forces. The group confirmed the deaths of three civilians traveling by car and four unidentified soldiers. Additionally, the strikes caused damage to a local highway, and a fire broke out in the Hair Abbas area.

Although the Israeli military did not comment, it has previously acknowledged carrying out numerous strikes in Syria against Iran-linked targets. These attacks have intensified since the start of the Gaza war in October last year, in response to cross-border attacks on northern Israel by Hezbollah and other groups based in Lebanon and Syria.