Israel hits multiple targets in Syria after rocket attacks overnighton April 9, 2023 at 7:59 am

Israel struck multiple military targets in Syria after rockets were fired into territory it controls overnight, the Israeli military has said.

Israeli artillery and drones were used to hit a Syrian army compound and rocket launchers after six rockets were fired from Syria at the Golan Heights.

Officials said three rockets had entered Israeli territory. Two hit open ground and a third was intercepted.

On Facebook, the Syrian defence ministry confirmed the Israeli attacks.

Syrian defence officials claimed that air defences had responded to the strikes and successfully intercepted some of the missiles.

It added that no casualties had been reported, with only material damage caused by the strikes.

Meanwhile, Syrian state media reported explosions near the capital Damascus.

Earlier, air raid sirens had sounded in the Golan Heights after rockets were fired from Syrian territory, but no casualties or damage were reported.

Lebanese media reported that the Al-Quds Brigade – an armed wing of the Iranian-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement – had claimed to be behind the attacks.

In a statement early on Sunday, Israeli Defence Forces said it “sees the state of Syria responsible for all activities occurring within its territory and will not allow any attempts to violate Israeli sovereignty”.

Meanwhile, Jordan – which borders Israel and Syria – said that a rocket exploded in the air on Saturday evening and its debris fell in Jordanian territory. They didn’t say where the rocket came from.

The debris, which fell in the Wadi Aqraba area, did not result in casualties or damage, a Jordanian army statement said.

Israel seized the Golan Heights, a 1,200-sq-km (460-sq-mile) area previously controlled by Syria, during the Six Day War in 1967 and annexed it in 1981, a move not recognised by most of the international community.

The attacks come amid heightening tensions in the region. On Friday, Israel struck several targets in southern Lebanon belonging to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which it blamed for a barrage of 34 rockets fired into northern Israel on Thursday.

Elsewhere, hundreds of Palestinians have barricaded themselves inside Al-Aqsa mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, raising fears of further clashes with Israeli police.

Last week there were violent scenes after Israeli police raided the mosque, saying “agitators” had barricaded themselves and worshippers inside.

Jordan – which manages the religious complex – has warned of catastrophic consequences if police storm the mosque.