Israel strikes Syria after 6 rockets fired at Golan Heights over the weekend

Israel Defense Forces struck several sites in Syria early this morning after six rockets were fired at the Golan Heights late Saturday night and early Sunday morning. 

In the first attack on Saturday night, three rockets were fired at the Golan Heights from Syria with one landing in Syrian territory, one falling in an open field in Israeli territory and the third falling into Jordanian territory. 

In the second attack on Sunday morning, three more rockets were launched. Of those, two crossed into Israeli territory, with one being shot down by Iron Dome defense systems, and the second fell into an open field. The third rocket reportedly fell in Syria. 

Following the two attacks, the IDF initiated missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks against several sites in Syria. 

The IDF reported that it targeted a military compound of the Fourth Division, as well as radar and artillery posts used by the Syrian military. The Israeli military said it holds “the State of Syria responsible for all activities occurring within its territory and will not allow any attempts to violate Israeli sovereignty.”  

The IDF UAV struck several of the launch sites in Syria used in the attacks. 

Syria’s army confirmed the strikes, reporting, “At about 05:00 a.m., the Israeli enemy launched an aerial aggression with a number of missiles from the direction of occupied Syrian Golan targeting some sites in the southern region.” 

The Syrian military claimed to intercept some of the Israeli missiles but acknowledged that the attacks caused some “material damage.” 

According to the Lebanese Al Mayadeen network, the attacks were launched by the Palestinian militant group Liwa al-Quds (Jerusalem Brigade) in retaliation for violence at Al Aqsa Mosque. 

The Lebanese military announced on Saturday that it had discovered rocket launching pads aimed at Israel in agricultural areas in the southern part of the country and announced that they were dismantling the sites. 

Israel has faced an increase in rocket attacks after Palestinian militants barricaded themselves in the Al Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday, throwing rocks and shooting fireworks at Israeli police who came to reopen the site. 

On Thursday, 34 rockets were launched at Israel from Lebanon in the largest rocket attack since 2006. Those attacks were also reportedly due to violence at Al Aqsa Mosque.