Rhino: Agencies – The Syrian Defense Ministry said on Monday that Israeli shelling from the direction of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights targeted a number of civilian sites south of the Syrian capital Damascus, causing some material damage.

Earlier on Monday, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that initial reports following the sound of a strong explosion near the capital indicated that an Israeli strike targeted the Sayeda Zeinab area.

The Sayeda Zeinab area has been targeted in previous strikes as it is a stronghold of the Iranian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah group and the site of an important Shiite shrine.

According to Syrian and Western intelligence sources, Israeli attacks in Syria have killed many Hezbollah fighters and pro-Iranian armed factions stationed around the eastern suburbs of Damascus and south of the city.