Skip to main content

Israel strikes Syrian army positions third time in 6 days after Golan hit

Israeli air attack on Syrian artillery follows probably 'unintentional' fire on northern Golan; no injuries reported on Israeli side
Smoke rises amid fighting in Syria, seen from Golan Heights (AFP)

Israeli aircraft struck Syrian army positions on Saturday after fire from its war-torn neighbour hit the Israeli-held zone of the Golan Heights earlier in the day, the military said.

The Israeli strike targeted artillery positions of the Syrian government in response to "a projectile" that hit the northern Golan, causing no injuries or damages, an army statement said.

A military official told the Haaretz newspaper that the Israeli army holds the Syrian government responsible for the errant fire and that the army will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israel's sovereignty and the security of its citizens.

A military spokeswoman said the projectile was most likely unintentional "spillover" from the internal fighting in Syria.

Residents in the Golan Heights said they heard explosions throughout the day amid the fighting between rival forces in Syria.

It was the third such incident in six days and came soon after Russia and the US announced a deal on a new Syrian ceasefire, set to come into force on Monday.

On Thursday, the Israel air force struck targets belonging to the Syrian government, the military announced, hours after mortar fire from the Syrian military errantly spilled into the northern Golan Heights, Haaretz said.

A similar incident took place on Sunday, when Israeli forces attacked artillery belonging to the Syrian government in response to a shell that exploded in the Israeli Golan Heights, Haaretz said.

There were similar events in July and previously.

Israel has sought to avoid being drawn into Syria's complex war which is now in its sixth year, but it has attacked Syrian military targets when fire from the conflict spills over.
