An Israeli helicopter strike in Syria killed a commander from Lebanon's Hezbollah and the son of the group's late military leader Imad Moughniyah, sources close to Hezbollah said, in a major blow that could lead to reprisal attacks.

The strike hit a convoy carrying Jihad Moughniyah and other Hezbollah members including commander Abu Issa, in the Syrian province of Quneitra, near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Lebanese sources said, killing five Hezbollah members in all.

Shi'ite Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has been fighting alongside President Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria's four-year war.

Iran's semi-official Tabnak news site said several of its Revolutionary Guards had also been killed in the attack, without giving further details. State-run Iranian television said the identity of the "martyrs" could not be confirmed.

Quneitra has seen heavy fighting between forces loyal to Assad and opposition forces. Syrian state television said six people were killed in the attack and a child was wounded, without giving further details.

PHOTO CAPTION

Israeli troops patrol the Israeli-occupied sector of the Golan Heights on January 18, 2015

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