Damascus, Apr 1 (IANS): The Syrian air defences responded to an Israeli missile strike in the central province of Homs, state TV reported.

The Israeli warplanes fired missiles from inside the Lebanese airspace, said the report on Tuesday, adding that a number of missiles were intercepted, Xinhua news agency reported.

The missiles were targeting military positions, said the report, adding that the Syrian air defenses used big fire power to intercept the missiles.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Israeli missiles targeted the Shayrat air base in the countryside of Homs with eight missiles.

The strike is the latest in a series of Israeli missile attacks.

On March 5, Syrian air defences intercepted Israeli missile attacks in Homs and the southern Quneitra province.

Throughout the Syrian crisis, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes against Iranian targets in Syria, as well as convoys transporting weapons to the Lebanese Hezbollah group.

On February 23, the Syrian air defences intercepted a number of Israeli missiles over the capital Damascus.

On February 13, the Syrian air defences intercepted a number of missiles from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that targeted areas around Damascus.

On February 6, Israel carried out a similar attack around the capital Damascus, killing a number of pro-government fighters, according to the Observatory.

In January, Damascus accused the Israeli air force of carrying out an attack on the T4 military airport in central Syria.

The strikes further highlighted the sprawling tensions between Israel and Iran in Syria. Clashes between the two countries have escalated over the past months. Israel accuses Iran of entrenching itself near the Israeli border.

In 2019 alone, more than 17 Israeli attacks took place against targets in Syria.