Israeli strike targets air defence installation near Syria's Mediterranean Latakia port

CAIRO - An Israeli strike targeted an air defence installation near Syria's Mediterranean Latakia port, Syrian security sources said on Monday.

Israel conducted three airstrikes in the Syrian capital a day earlier, against a security complex and a government research centre which it has said in the past was used by Iran to develop missiles, two regional security sources told Reuters on Sunday.

Earlier on Sunday, Israel struck at least seven targets in southwest Syria that included the Khalkhala air base north of Sweida city, the sources said.

The strikes come after Syrian rebels overthrew President Bashar al-Assad, which Israel has watched with a mixture of hope and concern.

Israel has been carrying out strikes against Iran-linked targets in Syria for years but has ramped up such raids since last year's Oct. 7 attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Israeli territory that sparked the Gaza war.

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Alex Richardson)