Israel fires 'David's Sling' anti-missile interceptors at Syrian rockets on occupied Golan Heights

Israel said its air defences fired at rockets that approached territory under its control from Syria on Monday, where regime troops are taking control of areas bordering the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Syrian regime troops have launched an offensive on parts of the Golan not occupied by Israel, where opposition forces are still present.

"Syrian rockets were identified as having been launched as part of the internal fighting in Syria," an Israeli army statement said in English.

The statement said two of Israel's newly deployed David's Sling interceptors were launched "in response to the threat to Israeli territory". The Syrian rockets fell inside Syria, it added, and did not say if the interceptors hit the rockets.

David's Sling - developed with US backing - was introduced into service in April 2017 to fill the gap between the longer-range Arrow missile defence system and the shorter-range Iron Dome interceptor.

Israeli media said Monday was the first time it was fired operationally.

Israel seized 1,200 square kilometres of the Golan from Syria in the 1967 Six Day war, in a move never recognised by the international community.

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

Regime forces have since regained control of most of these two provinces through a combination of deadly bombardment and Moscow-brokered surrender deals.