Israel strikes Syria, after rockets land in Galilee

The rockets appeared to be errant fire from clashes between regime and rebels forces as fighting intensifies in western and southern Syria.
2 min read
26 July, 2018
Israel has repeatedly struck Syrian targets in recent months [Getty]
Israel's military struck a rocket launcher in Syria in response to two missles that fell into the Sea of Galilee on Wednesday. 

The army said in a statement late on Wednesday the area surrounding the rocket launcher was targeted by Israeli artillery. 

The rockets appeared to be errant fire from clashes between the Syrian regime and rebels along the border with Israel. President Bashar al-Assad's forces are currently fighting to capture the last-remaining rebel villages in the southern part of the Golan Heights. 

The military said in a statement that it "will act against any attempt to compromise Israeli sovereignty and the safety of its civilians".

Israeli police were unable to find any remnants of a rocket, missile or mortar, despite hours of searches in the area. Police said the search for debris will resume on Thursday, according to the Times of Israel

The military also said the rockets failed to trigger Israel's missile defence systems, and officials are investigating why. 

Earlier this week, the Israeli military shot down a Syrian fighter jet that it said had breached Israeli airspace. Israel also activated its aerial defence system on Monday in response to missiles fired from Syria.

In recent weeks, Israel's military has been on high alert over the Syrian regime's offensive in the southern and southwestern parts of the country. Tel Aviv has warned that ceasefire lines with its neighbour Syria must be respected.

Israel seized a large swathe of the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it. The Israeli-occupied Golan Heights has never been recognised by the international community. 

Earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visited Moscow for talks with Syrian regime backer Vladimir Putin about Damascus and Tehran.

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