A Syrian man rides his motorcycle past damaged buildings in the southern city of Daraa. AFP file photo

Beirut - London - Asharq Al-Awsat

Six Iranians fighting for the Syrian regime were among those killed in reported Israeli missile strikes in southern Syria this week, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said.

Israeli missiles targeted "military positions and intelligence facilities belonging to Iran and (pro-Iranian) militias" in the southern provinces of Daraa and Quneitra, it said.

State media also reported that the "Israeli enemy launched an aggression" against military positions held by the government and its allies in Daraa province, without mentioning casualties.

The Observatory said Thursday the strikes had killed six Iranians and three pro-regime Syrian fighters.

The area targeted on Wednesday lies close to part of the Golan Heights that is occupied and annexed by Israel.

Israeli daily Maariv quoted a senior official in Tel Aviv as saying that although the Israeli army was attacking Iran-backed Hezbollah positions, it refrained from harming party officers and focused its operations against designated terrorist bases.