This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26641815
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Israel attacks Syrian army sites in Golan Heights clash | Israel attacks Syrian army sites in Golan Heights clash |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Israel says it has attacked several Syrian military sites in retaliation for a bombing that wounded four of its troops in the occupied Golan Heights. | Israel says it has attacked several Syrian military sites in retaliation for a bombing that wounded four of its troops in the occupied Golan Heights. |
Israel's military said its targets included a Syrian army headquarters, a training facility and artillery units. | Israel's military said its targets included a Syrian army headquarters, a training facility and artillery units. |
It comes after four Israeli soldiers were hurt in an explosion on Tuesday. | It comes after four Israeli soldiers were hurt in an explosion on Tuesday. |
Syrian and Israeli forces have traded fire a number of times over the ceasefire line in the Golan Heights since the uprising in Syria began. | Syrian and Israeli forces have traded fire a number of times over the ceasefire line in the Golan Heights since the uprising in Syria began. |
Israeli warplanes carried out air strikes on the Syrian facilities overnight, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. He described the targets as on the Syrian-held side of the Golan Heights. | Israeli warplanes carried out air strikes on the Syrian facilities overnight, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. He described the targets as on the Syrian-held side of the Golan Heights. |
"A short while ago the IDF targeted several Syrian army positions which aided and abetted the attack against IDF personnel yesterday," the army said in a statement early on Wednesday. | "A short while ago the IDF targeted several Syrian army positions which aided and abetted the attack against IDF personnel yesterday," the army said in a statement early on Wednesday. |
'Escalation of violence' | 'Escalation of violence' |
The Golan Heights, a rocky plateau in south-western Syria, has a political and strategic significance that belies its size. | The Golan Heights, a rocky plateau in south-western Syria, has a political and strategic significance that belies its size. |
Israel seized the region from Syria in the closing stages of the 1967 Middle East War, and thwarted a Syrian attempt to retake it in 1973. | Israel seized the region from Syria in the closing stages of the 1967 Middle East War, and thwarted a Syrian attempt to retake it in 1973. |
The two countries remain technically in a state of war, and UN observers are deployed to monitor a 70km-long (44-mile) demilitarised zone. | |
Since the uprising began in Syria three years ago, both government forces and rebel fighters have repeatedly crossed into the buffer zone. | Since the uprising began in Syria three years ago, both government forces and rebel fighters have repeatedly crossed into the buffer zone. |
On Tuesday, Israel said four of its soldiers were injured as they approached the demilitarized zone after identifying "suspicious activity". | |
IDF spokesman Lt Col Peter Lerner described the blast as "an unacceptable escalation of violence from Syria". | IDF spokesman Lt Col Peter Lerner described the blast as "an unacceptable escalation of violence from Syria". |
"We will not tolerate this threat against Israeli civilians or troops." | "We will not tolerate this threat against Israeli civilians or troops." |
There was no immediate response from the Syrian government. | |
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the border with Syria had been recently "filling up" with jihadist fighters hostile to Israel and militants from the Lebanese Shia Islamist movement, Hezbollah. | |
Two weeks ago, Israeli troops shot two "Hezbollah-affiliated terrorists" attempting to plant an explosive device near the fence demarcating the demilitarised zone, the Israeli military said. | Two weeks ago, Israeli troops shot two "Hezbollah-affiliated terrorists" attempting to plant an explosive device near the fence demarcating the demilitarised zone, the Israeli military said. |