IDF Fires at Syria Over Mortar in Golan Heights

 A Syrian mortar bomb landed, apparently by mistake, in Israeli territory for the second time today. An IDF tank fired towards the source of the fire. A target hit was identified.

A Syrian mortar bomb landed in Israeli territory to the north of an IDF outpost in Tel Hezka, for the second time in 24 hours. There were no reports of damage or casualties. An IDF tank fired towards the source of the fire in response, beyond the Syrian border. The forces operated according to the General Staff instructions for opening fire in the area, set in place in the wake of the stray fire of the past few days. The Syrian mortar batteries were destroyed by the Israeli fire. It is unknown if there are any casualties on the Syrian side.

The IDF Spokesperson has stated that an IDF force responded and initiated tank fire towards the source of the Syrian fire. Precise target hits were identified, and the IDF has conveyed a message on the issue to United Nations officials. The IDF Spokesperson added that "as was said yesterday, the IDF will respond severely to any harm to Israeli territory."

Yesterday saw the IDF firing into Syrian territory, for the first time since the Yom Kippur War, in response to the fire of the mortar that landed in a town in the eastern Golan Heights. There were no reports of casualties or damage in the incident. The IDF assessed that it was a case of stray fire from Syria. However, due to the increase in the number of stray fire incidents from Syria, the IDF has apparently decided to respond to the events for the first time.

IDF Artillery forces fired a Tamuz missile towards a Syrian military mortar battery that accidentally fired at an IDF outpost in Tel Hezka. There were no casualties in the incident. The IDF Spokesperson stated that an IDF outpost was fired upon in the framework of the combat between the Syrian military and rebels. No casualties were reported in the incident. In response, IDF forces carried out warning fire towards the Syrian expanse and a message was conveyed to the United Nations, the essence of which was a warning to Syrian forces not to fire further towards Israeli territory, and that another fire event will result in an Israeli response.