At least four Syrian soldiers were killed and as many were wounded after an Israeli missile strike hit near the&nbsp;capital city of Damascus, reported state media&nbsp;Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).&nbsp;

"At about 2:20 in the morning today, the Israeli enemy launched an aerial aggression from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, targeting some points in the vicinity of the city of Damascus," said the agency citing a military source, adding that "some material damage" had also been reported.&nbsp;

After the initial strikes, the Syrian air defence system managed to intercept the Israeli missiles and shot&nbsp;down some of them, the publication noted.&nbsp;

In the aftermath, Syria's foreign ministry released a statement, condemning the attack "in the strongest terms".&nbsp;

Notably, on July 19, Israel carried out similar strikes near Damascus that killed three pro-government fighters and wounded four others. Previous other strikes have put both Damascus and Aleppo airports out of service as well.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-syrian-civilians-killed-in-israeli-air-strike-on-syria-578778">Also read |&nbsp;Two Syrian civilians killed in Israeli air strike on Syria</a>

<h2>Why Israel attacks Syria?</h2>

For several years now, Tel Aviv has been carrying out air strikes against what it described as&nbsp;Iran-linked targets in Syria. Since the civil war broke out in 2011 in Syria, Iran's influence has grown in the region with&nbsp;President Bashar al-Assad having full support of the Shi'ite country.&nbsp;

Although Israel does not comment frequently regarding its air strikes on Syria, the country has made a point to reiterate that it will not allow its nemesis Iran to expand its footprint there.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israeli-air-strikes-hit-anti-aircraft-battery-in-syria-611118">Watch |&nbsp;Israeli air strikes hit 'anti-aircraft battery' in Syria</a>

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Primarily, Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters as well as Syrian army positions have been the target of the Israeli strikes.&nbsp;

Hezbollah is a Shia terror outfit, operating in southern Lebanon, backed by Iran. The group came into existence during the 15-year Lebanese Civil War and has been waging a war against Israel by supporting Palestinian factions and their cause.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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At least four Syrian soldiers were killed and as many were wounded after an Israeli missile strike hit near the capital city of Damascus, reported state media Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

At least four Syrian soldiers were killed and as many were wounded after an Israeli missile strike hit near the capital city of Damascus, reported state media Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). "At about 2:20 in the morning today, the Israeli enemy launched an aerial aggression from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, targeting some points in the vicinity of the city of Damascus," said the agency citing a military source, adding that "some material damage" had also been reported. After the initial strikes, the Syrian air defence system managed to intercept the Israeli missiles and shot down some of them, the publication noted. In the aftermath, Syria's foreign ministry released a statement, condemning the attack "in the strongest terms". Notably, on July 19, Israel carried out similar strikes near Damascus that killed three pro-government fighters and wounded four others. Previous other strikes have put both Damascus and Aleppo airports out of service as well. Also read | Two Syrian civilians killed in Israeli air strike on Syria Why Israel attacks Syria? For several years now, Tel Aviv has been carrying out air strikes against what it described as Iran-linked targets in Syria. Since the civil war broke out in 2011 in Syria, Iran's influence has grown in the region with President Bashar al-Assad having full support of the Shi'ite country. Although Israel does not comment frequently regarding its air strikes on Syria, the country has made a point to reiterate that it will not allow its nemesis Iran to expand its footprint there. Watch | Israeli air strikes hit 'anti-aircraft battery' in Syria × Primarily, Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters as well as Syrian army positions have been the target of the Israeli strikes. Hezbollah is a Shia terror outfit, operating in southern Lebanon, backed by Iran. The group came into existence during the 15-year Lebanese Civil War and has been waging a war against Israel by supporting Palestinian factions and their cause. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

At least four Syrian soldiers killed in Israeli air strikes near Damascus: Reports

President Michel Aoun held talks on Monday with other Lebanese political leaders over the future of Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri&#39;s government but gave no sign whether they discussed Hariri&#39;s demand the country steer clear of regional turmoil.

Aoun&#39;s office said the talks were positive and constructive but did not detail steps to address the demands Hariri made after postponing his shock resignation, notably that Lebanese stick by the state policy of staying out of regional conflicts - a reference to Iran-backed Shi&#39;ite group Hezbollah.

The consultations would continue once Aoun returns on Friday from an official visit to Italy, the statement said.

A senior Lebanese official said the consultations at the presidential palace in Baabda aimed to help Hariri&#39;s government &quot;get back on its feet&quot;, after weeks of political instability triggered by Hariri&#39;s Nov. 4 resignation, announced in Riyadh.

Lebanese officials say Saudi Arabia forced Hariri to resign and held him against his will, triggering an intervention by France which led to his return to Beirut last week.

Riyadh says Hariri, Lebanon&#39;s top Sunni Muslim politician and a long-time Saudi ally, resigned freely and denies holding him.

In his resignation speech, Hariri strongly criticised Iran and its heavily armed Lebanese Shi&#39;ite Muslim ally Hezbollah for meddling in the Arab world. Since returning to Beirut, Hariri has said all Lebanese must stick by the state policy of &quot;disassociation&quot;, or keeping out of regional conflicts - a reference to Hezbollah.

Leading Druze politician Walid Jumblatt, an influential figure in Lebanon, said after meeting Aoun that it was important to talk about &quot;disassociation&quot;, and how to achieve it.

He said it would be wise not to bring up the question of Hezbollah&#39;s weapons in discussions, referring to previous rounds of futile talks on this point.

The senior Lebanese official said the &quot;consultations might end with Lebanon reaffirming the ministerial statement that implicitly includes disassociation&quot;. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as Aoun&#39;s consultations were not over.

Hariri said on Saturday he would not accept &quot;Hezbollah stances that affect our Arab brothers or target the security and stability of their countries&quot;.

President Michel Aoun held talks on Monday with other Lebanese political leaders over the future of Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri's government but gave no sign whether they discussed Hariri's demand the country steer clear of regional turmoil.

President Michel Aoun held talks on Monday with other Lebanese political leaders over the future of Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri's government but gave no sign whether they discussed Hariri's demand the country steer clear of regional turmoil. Aoun's office said the talks were positive and constructive but did not detail steps to address the demands Hariri made after postponing his shock resignation, notably that Lebanese stick by the state policy of staying out of regional conflicts - a reference to Iran-backed Shi'ite group Hezbollah. The consultations would continue once Aoun returns on Friday from an official visit to Italy, the statement said. A senior Lebanese official said the consultations at the presidential palace in Baabda aimed to help Hariri's government "get back on its feet", after weeks of political instability triggered by Hariri's Nov. 4 resignation, announced in Riyadh. Lebanese officials say Saudi Arabia forced Hariri to resign and held him against his will, triggering an intervention by France which led to his return to Beirut last week. Riyadh says Hariri, Lebanon's top Sunni Muslim politician and a long-time Saudi ally, resigned freely and denies holding him. In his resignation speech, Hariri strongly criticised Iran and its heavily armed Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim ally Hezbollah for meddling in the Arab world. Since returning to Beirut, Hariri has said all Lebanese must stick by the state policy of "disassociation", or keeping out of regional conflicts - a reference to Hezbollah. Leading Druze politician Walid Jumblatt, an influential figure in Lebanon, said after meeting Aoun that it was important to talk about "disassociation", and how to achieve it. He said it would be wise not to bring up the question of Hezbollah's weapons in discussions, referring to previous rounds of futile talks on this point. The senior Lebanese official said the "consultations might end with Lebanon reaffirming the ministerial statement that implicitly includes disassociation". The official spoke on condition of anonymity as Aoun's consultations were not over. Hariri said on Saturday he would not accept "Hezbollah stances that affect our Arab brothers or target the security and stability of their countries".

Lebanon's Aoun holds talks on Hariri government

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At least four Syrian soldiers killed in Israeli air strikes near Damascus: Reports

Lebanon's Aoun holds talks on Hariri government