Israel rocket struck residential buildings in Damascus killing 15 people. According to the police officials, the strike damaged several buildings in the densely populated area in the heart of the capital. The Head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights described the incident as the deadliest Israeli attack.

Israel intensifies attack in Syria as their strike hits central Damascus

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday blamed<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-and-its-allies-may-be-behind-israeli-ship-blast-says-newspaper-366834"> Iran </a>for the blast on aboard an Israeli-owned ship last week.

"It is indeed an Iranian act, that's clear," the Israel prime minister told a television channel, adding that,"Iran is Israel's greatest enemy, I'm determined to block it, we're striking at it throughout the region."

Iran has however rejected Israel PM's charge that it attacked the ship.

MV Helios Ray was hit with a blast even as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-iraq-foreign-ministers-meet-against-backdrop-of-us-air-strikes-in-syria-366832">Syrian</a> state news agency SANA said its air defences had intercepted Israeli missiles over Damascus on Sunday. There was no immediate report of casualties during the attack over Damascus.&nbsp;

According to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syria-slams-cowardly-us-air-strikes-on-iran-backed-militias-366663">Syrian </a>Observatory for Human Rights, the strike hit the area of Sayyida Zeinab in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/be-prepared-biden-to-iran-after-us-airstrike-in-syria-366552">Damascus </a>as Israel's security establishment met on Sunday to discuss the alleged attack in the Gulf of Oman.

Israeli vessel was travelling from Saudi Arabia to Singapore when the explosion occurred. The company said the explosion caused two holes about a meter and a half in diameter.

The vessel was reportedly transporting cars from Dammam to Singapore when the blast occurred. Reports said MV Helios Ray was heading to the UAE, where it was due to arrive on Saturday morning to undergo checks.

Israel had earlier hit arms depots near Syria's capital killing at least nine militia fighters, the Observatory had reported.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday blamed Iran for the blast on aboard an Israeli-owned ship last week. "It is indeed an Iranian act, that's clear," the Israel prime minister told a television channel, adding that,"Iran is Israel's greatest enemy, I'm determined to block it, we're striking at it throughout the region.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday blamed Iran for the blast on aboard an Israeli-owned ship last week. "It is indeed an Iranian act, that's clear," the Israel prime minister told a television channel, adding that,"Iran is Israel's greatest enemy, I'm determined to block it, we're striking at it throughout the region." Iran has however rejected Israel PM's charge that it attacked the ship. MV Helios Ray was hit with a blast even as Syrian state news agency SANA said its air defences had intercepted Israeli missiles over Damascus on Sunday. There was no immediate report of casualties during the attack over Damascus. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the strike hit the area of Sayyida Zeinab in Damascus as Israel's security establishment met on Sunday to discuss the alleged attack in the Gulf of Oman. Israeli vessel was travelling from Saudi Arabia to Singapore when the explosion occurred. The company said the explosion caused two holes about a meter and a half in diameter. The vessel was reportedly transporting cars from Dammam to Singapore when the blast occurred. Reports said MV Helios Ray was heading to the UAE, where it was due to arrive on Saturday morning to undergo checks. Israel had earlier hit arms depots near Syria's capital killing at least nine militia fighters, the Observatory had reported.

'Striking throughout the region': Israel PM Netanyahu blames Iran for vessel blast in Gulf of Oman

As part of swap deal brokered by Russia, Israel on Friday announced the release of&nbsp;two prisoners including one convicted of spying.

According to a report by news agency AFP, the prisoners, Sidqi al-Maqt,&nbsp;Amal Abu Saleh,&nbsp;are residents of&nbsp;annexed Golan Heights in Israel.

They were released in a "gesture of goodwill" after the repatriation to Israel last year of the remains of Zachary Baumel, an Israeli soldier missing since the 1982 war in Lebanon, the prisons' authority said.

The spying convict name Maqt was jailed in 2015 for 11 years for spying, treason, contact with a foreign agent and transfer of information to the Syrian government while Amal Abu Saleh was jailed for the murder of a Syrian who crossed the Israeli border.&nbsp;

Saleh was due to remain behind bars until 2023.

Israeli authorities had promised the release of two Syrian prisoners after the repatriation of the remains.

According to Israeli media, the release of Maqt and Abu Saleh was delayed because the two men wanted to return to the town of Majdal Shams in the annexed Golan Heights, rather than travel to Syrian-held territory.

Maqt told Syrian state news agency SANA his release was "without conditions and that is a victory of the will of the Syrians over the will of the occupier".

SANA said Maqt had been released in August 2012 after 27 years in Israeli detention.

"He was re-arrested on February 25, 2015... after he documented cooperation between the Israeli occupying army and the terrorists of Al-Nusra Front," it said, referring to Syria's then Al-Qaeda affiliate.

After midnight, SANA said Abu Saleh has arrived at his birthplace of Majdal Shams.

Some 23,000 Druze still live in the part of the Golan Heights Israel seized from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed in a move not recognised by most of the international community.&nbsp;

The majority still consider themselves Syrian.

(With inputs from AFP)

As part of swap deal brokered by Russia, Israel on Friday announced the release of two prisoners including one convicted of spying. According to a report by news agency AFP, the prisoners, Sidqi al-Maqt, Amal Abu Saleh, are residents of annexed Golan Heights in Israel.

As part of swap deal brokered by Russia, Israel on Friday announced the release of two prisoners including one convicted of spying. According to a report by news agency AFP, the prisoners, Sidqi al-Maqt, Amal Abu Saleh, are residents of annexed Golan Heights in Israel. They were released in a "gesture of goodwill" after the repatriation to Israel last year of the remains of Zachary Baumel, an Israeli soldier missing since the 1982 war in Lebanon, the prisons' authority said. The spying convict name Maqt was jailed in 2015 for 11 years for spying, treason, contact with a foreign agent and transfer of information to the Syrian government while Amal Abu Saleh was jailed for the murder of a Syrian who crossed the Israeli border. Saleh was due to remain behind bars until 2023. Israeli authorities had promised the release of two Syrian prisoners after the repatriation of the remains. According to Israeli media, the release of Maqt and Abu Saleh was delayed because the two men wanted to return to the town of Majdal Shams in the annexed Golan Heights, rather than travel to Syrian-held territory. Maqt told Syrian state news agency SANA his release was "without conditions and that is a victory of the will of the Syrians over the will of the occupier". SANA said Maqt had been released in August 2012 after 27 years in Israeli detention. "He was re-arrested on February 25, 2015... after he documented cooperation between the Israeli occupying army and the terrorists of Al-Nusra Front," it said, referring to Syria's then Al-Qaeda affiliate. After midnight, SANA said Abu Saleh has arrived at his birthplace of Majdal Shams. Some 23,000 Druze still live in the part of the Golan Heights Israel seized from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed in a move not recognised by most of the international community. The majority still consider themselves Syrian. (With inputs from AFP)

Israel releases spying convict as part of prisoners swap deal with Syria

Israeli <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-led-strikes-on-raqqa-killed-42-civilians-monitor-19304">warplanes targeted a Syria</a>n military position in Hama province early on Thursday from Lebanese airspace, killing two people and causing material damage, the Syrian army general command said in a statement.

The army statement said it took place near the town of Masyaf and warned against the &quot;dangerous repercussions of this aggressive action to the security and stability of the region&quot;.

An Israeli army spokeswoman earlier declined to discuss reports of a strike in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/enough-evidence-to-convict-syrias-assad-of-war-crimes-un-commission-18940">Syria</a>, saying the army does not comment on operational matters.

Israeli officials have in the past admitted that Israel has attacked weapons shipments bound for Lebanon&#39;s Iran-backed Hezbollah group, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, without specifying which ones.

Amos Yadlin, a former head of Israeli military intelligence, tweeted that the reported attack was not routine and targeted a Syrian military scientific centre.

&quot;The facility at Masyaf also produces chemical weapons and explosive barrels that have killed thousands of Syrian civilians,&quot; Yadlin said in the tweet.

There was no independent confirmation that this was the target but the United Nations has said in the past that the Syrian government has carried out chemical weapons attacks, which Damascus denies.

Israeli officials have also previously said that Israel and Russia, another Assad ally, maintain regular contacts to coordinate military action in Syria.

Jets flying over Lebanon overnight broke the sound barrier and Lebanese media reported that some Israeli jets had breached Lebanese airspace.

The air strike has killed two people and caused material damage, the Syrian army general command said

Israeli warplanes targeted a Syrian military position in Hama province early on Thursday from Lebanese airspace, killing two people and causing material damage, the Syrian army general command said in a statement. The army statement said it took place near the town of Masyaf and warned against the "dangerous repercussions of this aggressive action to the security and stability of the region". An Israeli army spokeswoman earlier declined to discuss reports of a strike in Syria, saying the army does not comment on operational matters. Israeli officials have in the past admitted that Israel has attacked weapons shipments bound for Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, without specifying which ones. Amos Yadlin, a former head of Israeli military intelligence, tweeted that the reported attack was not routine and targeted a Syrian military scientific centre. "The facility at Masyaf also produces chemical weapons and explosive barrels that have killed thousands of Syrian civilians," Yadlin said in the tweet. There was no independent confirmation that this was the target but the United Nations has said in the past that the Syrian government has carried out chemical weapons attacks, which Damascus denies. Israeli officials have also previously said that Israel and Russia, another Assad ally, maintain regular contacts to coordinate military action in Syria. Jets flying over Lebanon overnight broke the sound barrier and Lebanese media reported that some Israeli jets had breached Lebanese airspace.

Israeli planes strike Syria's Hama province