IAF strikes Syrian targets in response to border attack
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) last night bombed several Syrian military targets in response to an attempted bombing attack by terrorists on the border between the two countries.
The IDF stated that the targets in the southern Golan Heights included observation posts and means of gathering intelligence, anti-aircraft guns and command and control systems at Syrian army bases.
Syria’s official SANA news agency reported that the attack occurred in the Quneitra area, adjacent to the border with Israel, and caused material damage but there were no casualties.
The attack was a response to an attempt by terrorists to attack Israeli forces on the border with Syria.
IDF Special Forces operating on the border with Syria on Sunday night identified and eliminated a four-man terror cell that was planting explosives near the border security fence.
The IDF force and IDF aircraft fired in parallel at the squad, some of whom were carrying weapons, and hit them. All four were killed. There were no Israeli casualties.
The IDF “holds the Syrian regime responsible for any action taken in its territory and will continue to act resolutely against any violation of the sovereignty of the State of Israel,” it stated after Monday night’s strikes.
The IDF estimates that Iranian-backed Shia militiamen were behind the attack, and not the Hezbollah terror group.
IDF forces deployed along Israel’s northern border remained on high alert Tuesday after thwarting an attack by the Hezbollah terror organization earlier this month and following threats by the group that more was to come.
The IDF has significantly boosted its deployment on the border with Lebanon, and reports indicate that the last time it was at this level of preparedness was during the Second Lebanon War in the summer of 2006.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated at the Knesset on Monday that “when the issue is security, we do not rest even for a moment. The IDF thwarted an attempt to plant explosives on the Syrian front. The matter with Lebanon is still in the air. We will hit anyone who tries to attack us and this principle applies to anyone who does attack us.”
