This handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on Feb 7, 2024 shows an excavator clearing rubble and debris at the scene of an area that was hit by reported Israeli bombardment in in Syria's west-central city of Homs. (PHOTO / AFP)

DAMASCUS — Seven people were killed and 13 others wounded after an Israeli missile attack targeted areas in the central province of Homs after midnight Wednesday, a local health official said.

Dr Muslim Al-Atassi, the health director in Homs, informed local media that the death toll has been officially confirmed following the conclusion of rescue operations after the collapse of a residential building on Al-Hamra Street in Homs city which was caused by the attack.

Several missiles were intercepted and destroyed by Syrian air defenses, with a few others landing in the Al-Qusayr countryside, causing fires in the vicinity

Earlier Wednesday, the Syrian Defense Ministry said Israel conducted a missile attack at around 00:30 am local time on Wednesday from over the northern Lebanese region of Tripoli, targeting various sites in the city of Homs and its vicinity.

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Several missiles were intercepted and destroyed by Syrian air defenses, with a few others landing in the Al-Qusayr countryside, causing fires in the vicinity.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported nine explosions heard in Homs and its surrounding areas following the attack.

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This attack was the latest in a series of Israeli strikes on military sites in Syria and the Observatory said Israel also shelled sites belonging to the Lebanese Hezbollah on the outskirts of Homs.