DAMASCUS - Syria's air defenses responded to a missile strike early Monday, destroying a number of targets, according to the state TV.

Sounds of explosions were heard after midnight in the capital Damascus, in what appeared to be a fresh Israeli missile strike on military bases in the capital, the state TV reported.

It was the second Israeli strike to target areas around the capital within 24 hours. On Sunday morning the Israelis fired missiles on Syrian positions, with the official media saying the attack was foiled by air defenses.