Israel's strikes on Syria saw 28 planes take part in raids with a total of around 70 missiles fired, Russia's defense ministry said on Thursday.

 

"28 Israeli F-15 and F-16 aircraft were used in the attack, which released around 60 air-to-ground missiles over various parts of Syria. Israel also fired more than 10 tactical ground-to-ground missiles," the ministry said in a statement, quoted by Interfax news agency.

 

A monitor said the strikes killed at least 23 fighters, including five Syrian regime troops and 18 other allied forces.

 

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the regime troops killed in the strikes included an officer, adding that the other casualties included Syrians and foreigners.

 

Israel's army said it had hit dozens of Iranian military targets in Syria overnight after "Iranian" missiles hit Israeli targets in the occupied Golan Heights, in the most serious flare-up between the two enemies in war-torn Syria.