Israeli airstrikes overnight killed at least 18 people in western and central Syria, including three Syrian civilians, and wounded dozens more, according to Syrian state media and a monitoring group. The strikes targeted military sites, including a scientific research center.

Since the start of Syria’s civil war in 2011, Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes there, mainly aimed at President Bashar al-Assad's forces and Iran-backed groups operating in the country that are loyal to him.

Syria's foreign ministry denounced the attack, calling it a clear act of aggression. In a statement via SANA, it confirmed 18 deaths, 36 injuries, and "material damage to some residential areas."

Earlier, the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which monitors the conflict through a network of sources in the country, said the death toll from the Israeli strikes in the Masyaf area was seven, including three civilians—a man and his son who were in a car—and four unidentified soldiers.

The strikes also destroyed buildings and military facilities near scientific research centers in the Masyaf area, where pro-Iranian groups and weapons experts are reportedly present, according to the SOHR. The group said 13 explosions were heard.

Iran, a key ally of Assad, has "military advisers" stationed in Syria. Iran's foreign minister spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said Tehran strongly condemned the "criminal attack" in Syria. He also denied reports relayed in the media about "an attack on an Iranian center or a center under Iran's protection," reported Reuters. 

From northwest Lebanon

“At 11:20 p.m. Sunday (8:20 p.m. GMT), the Israeli enemy launched an aerial assault from northwest Lebanon, targeting several military sites in the central region,” Sana quoted a military source as saying. “Our air defense shot down some of the missiles,” the source added.

Our correspondent in northern Lebanon reported that Israeli fighter jets had conducted “several raids” from northern Lebanese airspace, particularly near the coastlines of Miniyeh and Deir Ammar. The sounds of missiles flying through Lebanese airspace were heard in several towns across Akkar, according to locals.

Before the strikes, Israeli drones and fighter jets had been heavily patrolling the area.

Israeli strikes in Syria have intensified since the beginning of the war in Gaza. Israeli officials rarely comment on the strikes but have repeatedly said they will not allow Iran, their regional enemy, to expand its presence in Syria.

In late August, three pro-Iranian fighters were killed in Israeli strikes on central Homs, according to the SOHR. A few days later, Israel’s military said it had killed members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in a strike in Syria near the Lebanese border, without specifying the number.