Israel struck targets in southern Syria on Wednesday in the third such attack in nearly 10 days, as the Syrian state TV reported the missiles targeted Iranian revolutionary guard bases.

A military spokesperson said missiles flying over the Golan Heights targeted several locations and air defenses downed several missiles. Live coverage showed a multi-storey building on fire.

"Our air defenses responded to an aerial Israeli aggression ... on some targets in the southern region," state media quoted a Syrian army spokesperson as saying.

Reuters reported that the strikes hit the Kisswa area in the southern outskirts of the capital Damascus and military bases used by Lebanon's pro-Iranian Hezbollah group.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military but Israel's Defense Force Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi said last month the missile strikes had "slowed down Iran's entrenchment in Syria."

"We have struck over 500 targets this year, on all fronts, in addition to multiple clandestine missions," Kochavi said in comments published by Israeli media.

Western intelligence sources say Israel's stepped up strikes on Syria in the last few months are part of a shadow war approved by the United States to undermine Iran's influence in the region.

(With input from Reuters)

(Cover: Syrian air defense intercepts an Israeli missile in the sky over Damascus, Syria, February 24, 2020. /AFP)