DAMASCUS - Israel made airstrikes on Syria's coastal city of Latakia before dawn on Thursday, igniting fires that forced firefighting teams to rush to extinguish.

The attacks struck a site near the city's entrance, causing damages, the national Syrian TV reported.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said the strikes hit a weapons depot in Latakia, but the report needs to be verified.

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There were no immediate reports of casualties from either Syrian officials or independent sources.

Israeli military strikes on Syria have increased recently, targeting locations Israel claims are used by militias operating in the war-torn country.

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Latakia, a key city on Syria's Mediterranean coast, is a vital economic hub and has largely avoided the brunt of over 13 years of conflicts in the country.