Israeli strikes killed at least six people in the central Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical officials said Monday, while also hitting suspected chemical and long-range weapons sites in Syria to keep them from rebels who seized Damascus.

Syrian insurgents say they have entered Damascus as residents of the capital report sounds of gunfire.

Rebel fighters claimed they captured the Syrian capital of Damascus early Sunday as government forces loyal to the country's president, Bashar al-Assad, were routed in a matter of days.