IDF retaliates against Syrian mortar fire
Shell fired by Syrian forces hits Israeli side of border. Retaliating for second time in 24 hours, IDF uses tank fire to strike Syrian launchers; direct hit identified
Shortly thereafter, the IDF returned fire, using tanks deployed along the border to target two D-3 mortar launchers belonging to the Syrian army. A direct hit was identified. The IDF reportedly hit two Soviet gun.
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On Sunday, the IDF fired into Syrian territory for the first time since the Yom Kippur War. The IDF's Artillery Corps fired a missile towards a post in Syria after a 120mm mortar shell landed in the eastern Golan Heights on Sunday morning.
IDF tanks near the Syrian border (Photo: Avihu Shapira)
The missile fired by the IDF on Sunday was an advanced Tammuz missile, an electro-optic missile that is based on Spike long-range missile technology and is developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
The missile fire drew a harsh response from the rebels in Syria, who accused Israel of interfering on the Assad regime's behalf.
A report by Turkey's Anadolu news Agency quoted a statement issued by the FSA saying that Sunday's incident was aimed to help the Assad regime in his war against opposition forces.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who toured the south Monday with some 100 foreign ambassadors, commented on the tensions on the northern border, saying that Israel was "following the situation closely. We will not allow our borders to be breached or our citizens to live under fire. We will respond accordingly."
Yoav Zitun contributed to the report
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