Israel will “immediately” respond to Syrian gunfire on the border of Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, stated new Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon. The statement comes after Israel returned fire from over the border, wounding two Syrian soldiers.
"Every violation of Israeli sovereignty and shooting from the Syrian side will immediately be answered by silencing the source of fire," AFP quoted him as saying after Israeli troops opened fire towards a Syrian military post.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired a Tamuz anti-tank guided missile into Syrian territory after Syrian troops opened fire for the second time in twelve hours, according to YNet News.
Israeli forces "destroyed a Syrian machine gun nest that fired on Israeli patrols operating to safeguard the border," spokesperson for the prime minister's Office, Ofir Gendelman, tweeted.
At least two Syrian soldiers were wounded with no casualties on the Israeli side.
The tensions along the border began on Saturday when a round of gunfire from the Syrian side hit an IDF jeep during an evening patrol in the Golan Heights. No one was injured in the incident.
"Our understanding is that it wasn't stray fire," Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner said.
It remains unclear whether the fire was aimed at the Israeli vehicle or was the result of indiscriminate fighting between rebels and government forces.
Israel is concerned over the tense situation at the Golan Heights border and fears a spillover of violence, as Syrian rebels have been making advances to capture territory from government forces.
Over the past few months Israel has had to respond to sporadic fire coming from Syrian side.
Source: RT
Read: IDF fires missile into Syria after more cross-border shooting
Lees: Spanning aan Israëlisch-Syrische grens groeit: opnieuw vuurgevechten op de Golan Hoogtes
View of the Golan Heights from Kuneitra (photo credit: Yossi Zamir/Flash90)
