Israeli air strikes on the northern Syrian city of Aleppo early on Friday killed 44 people, including seven members of Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Syrian Defense Ministry said earlier on Friday that a number of civilians and military personnel were killed after Israel and militant groups launched attacks against Aleppo. It said the Israeli air strikes targeted several areas in Aleppo's countryside at about 1:45 a.m. local time (2245 GMT).

The air strikes coincided with drone attacks carried out from Idlib and western rural Aleppo that the ministry described as having been conducted by "terrorist organizations" targeting civilians in Aleppo and its surroundings.

There was no immediate comment from Israel.

(With input from agencies)