- After a wave of shelling, Israel has bombed Syria with airstrikes after two missiles landed in the occupied Golan Heights.
- Syrian government denies missiles came from Syria and responds to Israel with criticism.
Tensions flared on Tuesday after two missiles from Syria’s Daraa were said to have fall into uninhabited areas of Israeli occupied Golan Heights, a disputed territory that Israel claims for its own while most of the international community considers Syrian.
In response to the missile attack, Israel fired artillery into south Syrian territory, followed by airstrikes on Wednesday.
Israeli forces shelled multiple locations including Saham al-Golan, the Yarmouk Basin, and Tal al-Mal, while drones patrolled the skies and by early Wednesday morning, airstrikes followed, targeting alleged weapons depots in Daraa and Quneitra, two regions which Israel has repeatedly called for Syrian demilitarisation, something that the Syrian government has refused to do.
Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz said: “We consider the president of Syria directly responsible for any threat and fire toward the State of Israel, and a full response will come soon.”
The Syrian foreign ministry said in a statement that reports of the missile launches towards Israel had not been verified yet and reiterated that Syria has not and will not pose a threat to any party in the region.
The Ministry said: “This escalation constitutes a blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty and aggravates tensions in the region.
“Syria has never been and will never be a threat to anyone in the region.”
Syrian state media has said that an Israeli strike in the southern Daraa province, an attack the Syrian foreign ministry later said resulted in “significant human and material losses.”
Who was responsible for the missile attack?
A group calling itself the Martyr Muhammad al-Deif Brigades claimed responsibility for the rocket attack. The claim – referencing Hamas’ infamous late military commander – could not be independently verified. However, Hamas released a statement denying any connection with the group.
