Israel says conducted air raid in Syria after rocket fire

Jerusalem: Israeli aircraft carried out a raid in Syria Wednesday after two rockets were fired from across the border into Israeli territory, the military said.

“In response to the two rockets launched at Israeli territory from Syria, IDF aircraft targeted the rocket launcher it was fired from,” the Israeli military said.

It added that artillery also targeted the surrounding area, but did not specify the location in Syria.

A military spokesman said that two projectiles were fired from Syria into Israeli territory, without providing further detail.

Air raid sirens were heard in parts of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights bordering Syria.

Israeli media said two rockets or mortar shells fired from Syria reached Lake Tiberias, south of the Golan, but did not cause any damage or casualties.

Israel said Tuesday it had shot down a Syrian fighter jet with surface-to-air missiles after it entered Israeli airspace near the Golan Heights, a rare incident that sparked fears of an escalation.

Damascus said the plane was carrying out anti-jihadist operations in southern Syria.

Israel has been on high alert since June 19, when Syrian government forces launched the offensive to retake Quneitra and Daraa provinces, adjacent respectively to the Israeli-held section of the Golan and to Jordan.

Israel seized 1,200 square kilometres (460 square miles) of the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War, in a move never recognised internationally. The two technically remain still at war.

Agence France-Presse