Israel has launched one of its deadliest air strikes on Syria in the early hours on Monday morning, reportedly killing 10 Iranian militiamen and Hezbollah fighters and six civilians.

Jets hit Syrian and Iranian military targets in Homs and Sahnaya, south of Damascus, according to Syrian sources.

Israel has carried out dozens of strikes in Syria as part of its efforts to prevent Iran, which has propped up the regime of Syrian president Bashar al Assad, establishing permanent bases in the country that could be used against Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last month that Israel was working systematically to stop its enemies establishing its “offensive attack bases” in Syria.

So far Israel has not commented on the latest reports but the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that 16 people had been killed.

According to the Syrian news agency Sana, that homes had been damaged in Sahnaya.

A Syrian anti-air missile reportedly landed in Nicosia in Cyprus without causing casualties.