Israel bombs southern Syria in retaliation for foiled Golan attack

In a rare statement acknowledging strikes in neighbouring Syria, the Israeli army said its targets included “observation posts and intelligence collection systems, anti-aircraft artillery facilities and command and control systems".

Israeli soldiers in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights near the border with Syria, July 28, 2020.
AP

Israeli soldiers in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights near the border with Syria, July 28, 2020.

Israeli fighter jets and attack helicopters have struck military targets in southern Syria belonging to the Syrian regime, hours after thwarting an infiltration attempt from Syria by suspected militants trying to plant explosives. 

In a rare statement acknowledging strikes in neighbouring Syria, Israel's army said late on Monday that "the targets struck include observation posts and intelligence collection systems, anti-aircraft artillery facilities and command and control systems in SAF (Syrian Armed Forces) bases."

Syria acknowledged the strikes, saying that Israeli helicopters fired missiles at Syrian regime outposts and reported unspecified “material damage”. The Syrian army activated its air defences late on Monday against "hostile targets" near the capital Damascus, the official news agency SANA reported.

The incident comes amid heightened tension on Israel’s northern frontier following a recent Israeli airstrike that killed a Hezbollah fighter in Syria and anticipation that the militant Lebanese group would retaliate.

'Irregular activity'

Earlier on Monday, Lieutenant colonel Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, said Israeli troops spotted “irregular” activity in the occupied Golan Heights. 

Israeli troops opened fire on the suspected militants, some of whom were armed, after observing them placing the explosives on the ground, Conricus said.

"Our estimate is that all four were killed," Conricus said in English, adding that there were no Israeli casualties.

A grainy video released by the army shows four figures walking away from barbed wire marking the frontier. The four then disappear in a large explosion that engulfs the area.

The Israeli military has not said if the four are suspected of ties to Iran or Hezbollah, two Syrian allies. However, Conricus said Israel held the Syrian regime responsible for the incident.

Addressing Likud party lawmakers, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel "thwarted attempted sabotage on the Syrian front” and would continue to “harm all those who try to harm us and all those who harm us”.

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and later annexed the territory. The US is the only country to have recognised Israel’s annexation.

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Tensions high

Tensions have been high on Israel's northern frontier following the Israeli airstrike that killed the Hezbollah fighter in Syria last month. 

Following the airstrike, the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights was hit by explosives fired from Syria and Israel responded by attacking Syrian military positions and beefing up its forces in the area.

Israel has been bracing for further retaliation and last week it said it thwarted an infiltration attempt from Lebanon by Hezbollah militants, setting off one of the heaviest exchanges of fire along the volatile Israel-Lebanon frontier since a 2006 war between the bitter enemies.

Israel considers Hezbollah to be its toughest and most immediate threat. Since battling Israel to a stalemate during a monthlong war in 2006, Hezbollah has gained more battlefield experience fighting alongside the Syrian regime in that country's bloody civil war.

After 40 years of calm, the Israel-Syrian frontier has heated up in recent years as Iran has tried to establish a military foothold on Israel's doorstep while helping regime's Bashar Assad in his country's yearslong war. Hezbollah also has aided Assad.

READ MORE: Israel launches 'Trump Heights' on occupied Golan Heights 

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