Unknown warplanes targeted an arms depot and posts of Iranian-backed militias in eastern
Syria, near the Iraqi border, killing at least 18 fighters in a nighttime attack, Syrian opposition activists said Monday.
A Syrian security official said
Israeli jets staged the airstrikes, but denied there were any casualties.
The attack comes amid rising tensions in the
Middle East and the crisis between
Iran and the U.S. in the wake of the collapsing
nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.