Toll from Israel's Syria strikes rises to 21 — monitor

BEIRUT — The death toll from Israel's latest bombardment of military targets in Syria rose from 11 to 21, a war monitor said on Tuesday, adding that most of those killed were Iranian.

The strikes carried out late Sunday and early Monday hit several positions and assets held by Iran and its allies in Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

An initial toll of 11 has now risen to 21, the head of the Britain-based observatory, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP.

"There are 15 foreigners among the dead, including 12 from the Iranian forces," he said. "Six Syrians from the regime were also killed."

Israel has warned it will continue to target positions in Syria held by Iran and its Lebanese ally Hizbollah.

Israel, regarding Iran as its biggest threat, has repeatedly attacked Iranian targets in Syria and those of allied militia, including Lebanon's Hizbollah.

With an election approaching, Israel's government has begun discussing its strikes more openly, and has also taken a tougher stance towards Hizbollah on the border with Lebanon. It said a rocket attack on Sunday was Iran's work.

The Israeli shift comes a month after US President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced a sudden plan to pull the 2,000 US troops from Syria, a move long sought by Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies. Trump's decision shocked American allies in the region and was opposed by top US officials including Defence Secretary Jim Mattis who quit in response.