The White House has condemned Iran's rocket attacks on Israeli citizens as "unacceptable and highly dangerous".

In a statement, the US administration called the missile attacks "provocative" and added: "We strongly support Israel's right to act in self defence.

"The Iranian regime's deployment into Syria of offensive rocket and missile systems aimed at Israel is an unacceptable and highly dangerous development for the entire Middle East."

Israel attacked dozens of Iranian targets in Syria in retaliation for 20 rockets being fired at its positions in the Golan Heights.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes killed at least 23 military personnel, including Syrians and non-Syrians.


The Russian military has claimed that Israel fired more than 70 missiles at Iranian facilities, adding that more than half were shot down by Syrian air defences.

Israel said it had attacked nearly all of Iran's military infrastructure including weapons storage, logistics sites and intelligence centres.

Image: An Israeli tank near the border with Syria in Israeli-occupied Golan Heights

Explosions were heard in the capital Damascus before dawn and air defence systems were heard throughout the night.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron have called for a de-escalation in tensions in the Middle East after the attacks.

The two leaders met in Aachen, Germany, at a ceremony where Mr Macron was awarded a prize for his contributions to European unity.

The German leader alluded to the two countries' support for the Iran nuclear deal.

She said: "We know that we face an extremely complicated situation here.

"The escalation of the last few hours shows it is truly a matter of war and peace, and I can only call on all involved to exercise restraint."

Image: Israeli tanks were seen lined up in the Golan Heights on Thursday

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for diplomacy between Israel and Iran, and said: "This is a very disturbing trend.

"We proceed from the fact that all issues should be solved through dialogue."

The Israeli strikes were the country's most significant military action in neighbouring Syria since the war started in 2011.

It was a response to the attack on the Golan Heights - an Israeli-controlled Syrian territory - in the early hours of Thursday, during which residents sought safety in bomb shelters.

Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said later that damage to Israeli positions was "limited".

He said on Twitter: "Iranian Quds force fired 20 rockets towards forward IDF (Israeli Defence Force) positions on Golan Heights.

"Several rockets intercepted. No Israeli casualties.

"The IDF views this Iranian attack with severity."

Image: Merkel and Macron were in Aachen, Germany, on Thursday and called for a de-escalation in tensions in the Middle East

The pro-Syrian government Al-Mayadeen TV said more than 50 missiles had been fired at Israeli forces.

The attacks are the latest in a tense exchange between the two enemies, with Iran blaming Israel for a 9 April fatal airstrike on Iranian positions in Syria.

Iran has also been trying to boost its presence in Syria.

The country is a key ally of President Bashar al-Assad and its Hezbollah forces have been helping beat back a seven-year rebellion against him.

Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on military coordination.

Adding to the tensions in the region, US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that his country would withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.

The Trump administration set out its position, in part, as a response to Iran's military action in Syria.

That move prompted Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to say that Mr Trump's body "will be food for worms".