Israel's army said Thursday it hit dozens of Iranian military targets in Syria overnight after rocket and missile fire toward its forces it blamed on Iran, marking a sharp escalation in tensions.
"The (Israeli military) has struck dozens of Iranian military targets in Syria," Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus told journalists.
He said they targeted intelligence, logistics, storage and vehicles as well as the origin of the rockets. It was one of the largest Israeli military operations in recent years and the biggest against Iranian targets.
Conricus however stressed Israel was not seeking an escalation.
Iranian forces fire on Israeli positions in Golan: Israeli army
Jerusalem (AFP) May 9, 2018 –
Iranian forces in Syria have fired around 20 rockets and missiles at Israeli army positions in the part of the Golan Heights occupied by Israel, the Israeli army said early Thursday.
The missiles, some of which were intercepted by Israel's anti-missile system, did not cause any casualties, army spokesman lieutenant-colonel Jonathan Conricus told journalists.
He added that the Israeli army responded, but did not explain the nature of the retaliation.
The rockets were fired shortly after midnight (2100 GMT Wednesday) by men from the Iranian al-Qods brigade at the front lines of the Israeli army in Golan.
"We know that comes from the al-Qods force," Conricus said, adding: "The Israeli army takes very seriously this Iranian attack against Israel."
This incident comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iran over the situation in Syria after several operations attributed to the Israeli army against Iranian interests in the war-torn country.
