Russian Sukhoi Su-25 j fighter jet (file)
Russian Sukhoi Su-25 j fighter jet (file)Reuters

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed Thursday reports that Russia had carried out strikes in southern Syria's Daraa province, near the Israeli border, in an apparent expansion of its aerial campaign. 

Semi-official Iranian Fars News claimed Tuesday that the Russian air force hit Islamist rebels in Tal al-Harra and Tal Antar near Deir al-Adas in the northern countryside of Daraa, which lies close to the Syrian-controlled Golan.

Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman verified to AFP that "this would be the first time that Russian planes have carried out strikes
in Daraa" - marking the closest Russian airstrikes to the Israeli border since Russia's intervention in Syria began. 

The Britain-based monitor had no immediate details on casualties or damage in the strikes.

The area targeted is controlled by an array of opposition groups including moderate and Islamist rebels and the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization affiliate Al-Nusra Front.

Fars also claimed in its report that targets belonging to Al Qaeda's Nusra Front and rival jihadists Islamic State were struck, though at the time those details could not be confirmed.

AFP contributed to this report.