As loud explosions were heard across the capital, the Syrian air defense missiles were launched from Mount Qasioun, which overlooks the capital, with smoke rising from areas in Damascus, according to Xinhua reporters on the ground.

The air defense missiles looked like red dots flying from earth to targets in the sky.

Syrian air defenses shot down 13 missiles fired in a US-led attack on the country on Saturday, Syrian state TV said.

It said the missiles had been shot down in the Kiswah area south of Damascus, the capital.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has condemned the US-led missile attack, saying it violated the international law and the UN Charter, Syrian state news agency SANA reported Saturday.

The ministry said the missile attack carried out by the US, Britain and France before daybreak Saturday, which targeted research facilities in Damascus as well as a military base in Homs province in central Syria, "shows again these countries' disrespect for international legitimacy".

The ministry urged the international community to condemn the attack, which, it said, will escalate tensions in the world and threaten world peace and security.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Saturday that the US-led attack on Syria reflects the "failure" of Western powers to achieve their goals in Syria after the defeat of the foreign-backed militants.

Assad made the remarks during a phone call with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who called Assad after the attack on Syria, the state news agency SANA reported.

"The attack took place after the colonial forces supporting terrorists realized they have lost control got the feeling that they have lost credibility in front of their people and the world," Assad said.

He highlighted his country's continued determination to fight terrorists across Syria.