Syria on Thursday condemned deadly Israeli strikes across the country as a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty, after Israel said it struck “military capabilities”.

Syrian state media said the strikes hit close to a defence research centre in Damascus, among other sites, while a war monitor reported four dead in the latest Israeli attack on Syria since Islamist-led forces ousted long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad.

“In a blatant violation of international law and Syrian sovereignty, Israeli forces launched air strikes on five locations across the country,” the Syrian foreign ministry said in a statement on Telegram.

“This unjustified escalation is a deliberate attempt to destabilise Syria and exacerbate the suffering of its people.”

It said the strikes resulted in the “near-total destruction” of a military airport in central Syrian province Hama, injuring dozens of civilians and soldiers.