Israeli troops raided missile production site in Syria, says monitor

Israeli forces destroyed an underground missile production facility built under Iranian supervision after helicoptering into Syria days ago, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Syrian authorities said 18 people had been killed in Israeli strikes on "military sites" in Hama province's Masyaf area.

"Helicopters dropped down dozens of Israeli forces who were able to enter the weapons production site and destroy it," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP on Friday.

He added that before troops descended, Israel launched intense strikes that also destroyed a separate "scientific research centre" in Masyaf used for weapons development where Iranian experts worked.