Israeli fighter pilots opened fire on three Syrian government positions this weekend after the northern Golan Heights came under shelling from across the Syrian border.
No air raid sirens were activated by the mortar shells. They reportedly landed close to the security fence along the border between Quneitra and the Valley of Tears. No one was injured and there was no property damage reported.
Israel filed a complaint with the United Nations over the incident.
More than 10 of the projectiles were fired at Israel, which the IDF said came as a result of the internal fighting in Syria. In response, an IAF aircraft targeted three positions belonging to the Syrian regime.
Arab media reported at least two Syrian soldiers were killed in the strikes.
“The footage shows a precise strike on a heavy machine gun and two tanks from which errant fire hit the northern Golan Heights in Israel,” said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit. “In the footage one of the tanks is seen preparing to fire but was hit before firing.
“The IDF views [the incident] with severity and will not tolerate any attempt to harm the sovereignty of the State of Israel or the security of its residents, and sees the Syrian regime as responsible for anything that takes place in its territory.”
During the summer months, thousands of Israeli and foreign tourists go to the Golan Heights to pick fruit, go hiking and enjoy the outstanding scenery. As a result, the IDF warned civilians to stay away from the border with Syria following the attack.
There are a number of non-state actors who are involved in hostilities in the area around Quneitra.
Fighting against Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad are the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in addition to the Islamic State (ISIS / Da’esh) terrorist organization, members of the Al Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra (Al Nusra Front) terrorist organization.
But there are a number of different forces supporting the Syrian regime, including Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) soldiers, the Lebanese Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrilla fighters, and Russian military consultants, in addition to Syrian government military forces themselves.