Syrian forces fired anti-aircraft systems in response to a deadly Israeli attack in the western province of Hama, a monitor reported Thursday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported explosions and an unspecified number of casualties in the Masyaf area, after an Israeli air raid against regime positions. "The area is under the Syrian army's control and Iranians are present there," said Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman. He said the target was a factory and research centre producing short-range surface-to-surface rockets. "Our air defence systems responded to an Israeli attack over Masyaf in rural Hama," state news agency SANA reported. Israel, which did not immediately comment on the reports, has launched hundreds of strikes in Syria since the start of the civil war in 2011. It has targeted government troops, allied Iranian forces and fighters from the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah. It rarely confirms details of its operations in Syria, but says Iran's presence in support of President Bashar al-Assad is a threat and that it will continue its strikes. bek/par/dwo