Death toll in Israeli attack on Syria's Palmyra rises to 36

The Syrian defense ministry said 36 people were killed and more than 50 wounded in Israeli air strikes in the city of Palmyra on Wednesday.

"The Israeli enemy launched an air attack from the direction of the Al-Tanf area, targeting a number of buildings in the city of Palmyra," a ministry statement said, adding that it had killed 36 people and wounded more than 50, as well as causing "significant material damage".

A monitor of Syria's war said 11 pro-Iran fighters were killed in the strikes.

The strikes killed "four non-Syrian fighters from pro-Iran groups and seven of Syrian nationality" and wounded "dozens including at least seven civilians", the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in a statement.

The strikes targeted "a warehouse in the industrial area and a restaurant and buildings near the ancient city of Palmyra", the Britain-based Observatory added.

State news agency SANA said an "Israeli attack... targeted residential buildings and the industrial area" of the city, renowned for its ancient ruins.

Since the civil war erupted in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria, mainly targeting the army and Iran-backed armed groups, including Hezbollah.

The Israeli military has intensified its strikes since almost a year of hostilities with Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon escalated into all-out war in late September.

Israel rarely comments on individual strikes in Syria, but has repeatedly said it will not allow Iran to expand its presence there.