Israel missile over Syria's city. — AFP/VNA Photo

DAMASCUS — Syrian air defences downed Israeli missiles over the ancient city of Palmyra in Homs province on Monday, state media reported.

Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria targeting government troops as well as allied Iranian forces and fighters from Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

"Air defences confronted an Israeli aggression over Palmyra and intercepted several hostile missiles," SANA said.

The missiles were downed before they could hit their targets, it added.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said the targets were "military posts for Iranian militias in the Palmyra desert."

The monitor did not report any casualties.

Contacted by AFP, an Israeli army spokesperson declined to comment.

Late last month, Syrian air defences intercepted an Israeli missile attack also targeting Homs province in the centre of the wartorn country.

The Observatory said the target was a military airport where Iranian forces are present.

It is rare for Israel to claim responsibility for such strikes directly.

The Jewish state says Iran's presence in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad is a threat and that it will continue its strikes.

The latest attack came only hours after Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with Assad in Damascus to discuss regional developments in light of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus — AFP