IDF retaliates against Syrian regime after mortars land in Golan Heights
A military source stated that the mortar fire was likely accidental spillover from battles between Assad regime forces and rebels in Syria's civil war.
By JPOST.COM STAFFUpdated: SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 09:25
IDF retaliates against Syrian regime after mortars land in Golan Heights
The Israeli Air Force struck cannons belonging to the Syrian regime late Tuesday evening in response to a number of mortar rounds that fell into the Golan Heights just hours earlier, according to a military statement."The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israel's sovereignty and security of its citizens," the statement said, adding Israel holds the Syrian government responsible for any weapons launched into its territory.Three mortar shells from Syria landed on the Israeli side of the Golan Heights Tuesday afternoon, within the span of an hour, after a rare overnight incident in which the Syrian Army fired two surface-to-air missiles at Israeli Air Force aircraft.No damage or injuries were reported in the incidents.A military source stated that the mortar fire was likely accidental spillover from battles between Assad regime forces and rebels in Syria's civil war.This is the seventh incident of Syrian mortars landing in Israeli territory in the past ten days. The IDF has responded to such spillover. even if it was expected to be accidental, with attacks against Syrian Army positionsOn Monday evening, Syrian fire crossed into the northern Golan Heights as a nationwide ceasefire brokered by the US and Russia came into effect in the embattled country.In response, the Israeli Air Force attacked cannons belonging to the Syrian regime on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights.The Syrian army then claimed on Tuesday morning that it had shot down an Israeli warplane and a drone.In a rare response to a foreign report, the IDF on Tuesday denied that any of its aircraft had been downed, but said Syrian forces had fired two surface-to-air missiles after the Israeli strike Monday night on a Syrian position.Reuters, Yaakov Lappin and Noam Amir contributed to this report.