Israel retaliates after two stray Syrian fire in Golan Heights

JERUSALEM: Israel returned fire at Syrian army forces late Saturday after two stray artillery rounds hit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the Israeli army said.

“In response to projectiles launched earlier today at Israel from Syria, Israeli forces targeted the Syrian military artillery position that was the source of the previous fire,” a statement said.

Earlier the army warned Syria to expect retaliation after the rounds fell in the Israelicontrolled zone of the strategic plateau, the latest of a string of incidents across the armistice line.

Both of Saturday’s stray rounds were the “result of internal fighting in Syria,” the army said, adding that there were no reports of casualties.

“Israel holds the Syrian regime responsible for any breach of its borders and will act accordingly,” chief military spokesman, Brigadier General Ronen Manelis said.

“Israel maintains a policy of non-involvement in the Syrian civil war. However, we will not tolerate any breach of Israel’s sovereignty.”

There has been repeated stray fire across the armistice line for the past week as Syrian troops battle rebels, including hardline Islamists, on the other side.

There have been no casualties on the Israeli side but the Jewish State has responded to every incident by striking Syrian army positions.

“Our line is clear,” Netanyahu said a Hebrew-language speech during a visit to the Golan.

— AFP photo Members of Iraq’s elite Rapid Response Division patrol the Shifa neighbourhood, on the west bank of Mosul where they are battling some of the last members of the IS jihadist group in the city.