AT least three Syrian soldiers were killed in Israeli air strikes close to the capital Damascus in the early hours of this morning.

The latest aerial bombardment took place with “bursts of missiles” from the direction of Lake Tiberias – also known as the Sea of Galilee – Syrian military sources said.

Most of the missiles were reportedly downed by air defence systems in Damascus City, although some were able to reach their targets.

“Three soldiers were martyred in the aggression which also caused some material damages,” the source confirmed.

The attack occurred a day after surface-to-surface missiles were launched on Quneitra city, which lies in a UN-monitored buffer zone in south-western Syria.

It is close to the occupied Golan Heights – which were seized by Israel following the 1967 Six Day War – and is the frequent target of Israeli fire.

Today’s bombing was the fourth time this month that Tel Aviv has launched air strikes against Syria.

Israel neither confirms nor denies such attacks but has admitted to carrying out hundreds of air strikes since the launch of a foreign-led war in Syria in 2011.

Twin attacks on the port of Latakia in December caused severe damage while at least 57 people were killed in eastern Syria last year in the deadliest attacks since the aggression began.

Experts say Israel’s actions amount to a breach of international law and potential war crimes. But the United Nations has refused to act despite appeals from the Syrian government.

At least 130 Syrians are believed to have been killed by Israeli missiles in 30 air strikes last year.