Israeli forces attacked Syrian military positions near the countries’ shared border early Thursday, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit confirmed Thursday.
Syrian state media also confirmed the incident, saying the country’s air defenses “thwarted much of the attack.”
The Israeli military posted a video featuring footage of IAF missiles hitting what appeared to be a hut, a two-story structure and a five-story structure amid hilly terrain.
Video: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit
The Syrian Arab News Agency quoted a Syrian military source as saying that ”The attack near Hader at the frontier of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights caused only material damages.”
Some Arab media reports said the strike had resulted in several casualties.
The Israeli strike came in retaliation for a Syrian drone incursion into Israeli territory on Wednesday. The drone was shot down by a Patriot missile over northern Israel, the military said.
IDF Spokesman in English Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said the drone was continuously monitored as it traveled about 10 kilometers (6 miles) inside Israeli airspace.
He explained that the IDF “scrambled four fighter jets that were on standby for similar missions as well as two attack helicopters” toward the Syrian drone.
Conricus said that after the drone was destroyed by a single Patriot missile, the debris landed near the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel.
Military officials believe the drone was on an intelligence-gathering mission, but it was not clear whether it had purposely entered Israel or had simply strayed from its intended path, originating in Jordanian airspace.
The military issued a statement warning that it ”will not allow any violation of Israeli airspace and will act against any attempt to harm its civilians.”
”The IDF holds the Syrian regime accountable for the actions carried out in its territory and warns it from further action against Israeli forces,” the statement said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on a state visit to Russia, reiterated that Israel will hold Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime responsible for any attempt to compromise Israel’s security on the Golan Heights.
”A few hours ago, a Syrian aircraft infiltrated Israel’s airspace,” he said. “We intercepted it, and we will continue to act decisively against any spillover and any infiltration of Israeli territory or airspace.”
In his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Netanyahu stressed that Israel does not intend to threaten Assad’s rule, but stressed that Moscow must work to remove Iranian forces from the war-torn country.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon called on the Security Council to condemn Wednesday’s drone incursion as a “dangerous act that not only threatens Israel, but the stability of the entire region.”
He said the incursion threatened “the safety and security of Israel’s northern cities and towns” and added that Israel has “repeatedly warned the Security Council of the destabilizing activities taking place in Syria and the threats they pose to Israel and the Middle East.”
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who toured the Israel-Syria border Wednesday, promised a “harsh response” to any attempt by Syrian forces to advance toward the Israeli border area, which has been demilitarized under a Separation of Forces Agreement since 1974.
Originally posted at Israel Hayom.
