Syria's air defense system is seen responding to an Israeli missile strike in the sky over Damascus.  (Photo: AFP)

Damascus, December 30 (RHC)-- Syria says the country’s air defenses have thwarted an Israeli aggression on the capital Damascus amid an upsurge in Israeli attacks on the Arab country.

Syria's official SANA news agency said the country’s missile defense systems had confronted the Israeli attack on the capital Damascus’ western countryside in the early hours of Wednesday.  The media report added that the Israeli assault, which was carried out on the southwestern town of al-Zabadani in the Rif Dimashq Governorate, claimed the life of a Syrian soldier and left there others injured.

"Our air defense confronted some of the missiles, which caused one martyr and led to the wounding of three soldiers as well as material damage," SANA quoted a military source as saying. 

The incident comes days after Syria’s air defense forces repelled an Israeli airstrike on the western Hama province.

Israel frequently targets military positions inside Syria, especially those of the resistance movement Hezbollah which has played a key role in helping the Syrian army in its fight against foreign-backed terrorists.