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Israel strikes Iranian targets in Syria in response to rocket fire Israel strikes Iranian targets in Syria in response to rocket fire
(about 1 hour later)
Israel says it has struck almost all of Iran's military infrastructure inside Syria in its biggest assault since the start of the civil war there.Israel says it has struck almost all of Iran's military infrastructure inside Syria in its biggest assault since the start of the civil war there.
The strikes came after 20 rockets were fired at Israeli military positions in the occupied Golan Heights overnight.The strikes came after 20 rockets were fired at Israeli military positions in the occupied Golan Heights overnight.
Syria's military said the Israeli "aggression" had killed three people.Syria's military said the Israeli "aggression" had killed three people.
There was no immediate comment from Iran, whose deployment of troops to Syria to help President Bashar al-Assad has alarmed Israel.There was no immediate comment from Iran, whose deployment of troops to Syria to help President Bashar al-Assad has alarmed Israel.
Iran has repeatedly called for an end to the existence of the Jewish state.Iran has repeatedly called for an end to the existence of the Jewish state.
Israel's military had been anticipating an attack by Iranian forces after reportedly carrying out a number of strikes on their facilities in Syria in recent months. They included one on an airbase in April that killed seven Iranian troops. Russia, Germany and France called on both countries to exercise restraint, but the US said Iran bore "full responsibility for the consequences of its reckless actions" and that Israel had a right to defend itself.
What happened in the Golan?What happened in the Golan?
The Golan Heights is a rocky plateau in south-western Syria, about 50km (30 miles) from the capital Damascus. Israel occupied most of the area in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed it in a move not recognised internationally.The Golan Heights is a rocky plateau in south-western Syria, about 50km (30 miles) from the capital Damascus. Israel occupied most of the area in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed it in a move not recognised internationally.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that early on Thursday morning 20 rockets had been launched at its forward posts there by the Quds Force, the overseas operations arm of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards force. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that early on Thursday morning 20 rockets had been launched at its forward posts there by the Quds Force, the overseas operations arm of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.
IDF spokesman Lt Col Jonathan Conricus said four rockets were intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome aerial defence system, while the others fell short of their targets. No injuries or damage were reported. IDF spokesman Lt Col Jonathan Conricus said four rockets were intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome aerial defence system, while 16 others fell short of their targets. No injuries or damage were reported.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based group that monitors the civil war in Syria, confirmed that "dozens of rockets" were fired from Quneitra province and the south-western Damascus countryside towards the occupied Golan. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, confirmed that rockets were fired towards the occupied Golan. But it said the attack came after Israeli forces bombarded Baath, a town in the demilitarised zone.
It did not identify those responsible, but said the rocket attack came after Israeli forces bombarded Baath, a town in the Golan demilitarised zone. A senior source in an Iranian-led military alliance that supports Syria's government also told AFP news agency that Israeli forces had fired first.
A senior source in an Iranian-led regional military alliance that supports Syria's government also told AFP news agency that Israeli forces had fired first.
How did Israel respond to the rocket fire?How did Israel respond to the rocket fire?
An IDF statement said fighter jets had struck "dozens of military targets" belonging to Iran inside Syria. They included: Col Conricus said fighter jets had struck 70 military targets belonging to Iran inside Syria, causing significant damage. The targets included:
The IDF said it had also targeted several Syrian military air defence systems after they fired at the Israeli fighter jets despite an Israeli "warning". The IDF said it had also targeted Syrian military air defence systems after they fired at the fighter jets despite an Israeli "warning".
Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman later told a conference in the town of Herzliya that the IDF had "hit almost all of the Iranian infrastructure in Syria".Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman later told a conference in the town of Herzliya that the IDF had "hit almost all of the Iranian infrastructure in Syria".
"They must remember that if it rains here [in Israel], it will pour there," he said. "I hope that we have finished this chapter and that everyone got the message.""They must remember that if it rains here [in Israel], it will pour there," he said. "I hope that we have finished this chapter and that everyone got the message."
However, the Syrian military declared it had "thwarted a new Israeli act of aggression" and that its air defences had "intercepted and destroyed a large part" of the missile barrage. However, Syria's military declared it had "thwarted a new Israeli act of aggression" and that its air defences "destroyed a large part" of the missile barrage.
Three people were killed and two others were injured by the missiles, a spokesman said. A radar station and an ammunition depot were also destroyed, and several air defence bases sustained material damage, he added. Three people were killed by the missiles, a spokesman said. A radar station and an ammunition depot were also destroyed, and several air defence bases sustained damage, he added.
Russia, which is also supporting the Syrian military in the civil war, said Israel fired more than 60 air-to-surface and 10 surface-to-surface missiles during the raid and that air defences shot down more than half of them. The Syrian Observatory reported that at least 23 people were killed, including five Syrian soldiers and 19 other allied fighters.
The Syrian Observatory reported that at least 23 people were killed in the strikes, including five Syrian soldiers and 19 other allied fighters. Russia, which is also supporting the Syrian military, said Israel fired 60 air-to-surface and 10 surface-to-surface missiles and that more than half were shot down.
'No-one wants an all-out war''No-one wants an all-out war'
By Jonathan Marcus, defence correspondent, BBC NewsBy Jonathan Marcus, defence correspondent, BBC News
These events have tactical and strategic dimensions.These events have tactical and strategic dimensions.
In the short-term the Iranians are seeking "pay back" for an Israeli strike against one of their bases in Syria a little over a month ago. On Wednesday night, according to the Israeli military, Iran's Quds Force launched rockets against Israeli positions in the Golan Heights.In the short-term the Iranians are seeking "pay back" for an Israeli strike against one of their bases in Syria a little over a month ago. On Wednesday night, according to the Israeli military, Iran's Quds Force launched rockets against Israeli positions in the Golan Heights.
But the scale of the attack was limited - a single multiple-barrel rocket launcher appears to have been used, which the Israelis say they subsequently destroyed. They then apparently hit every Iranian facility they know of in Syria to send a powerful message to Tehran.But the scale of the attack was limited - a single multiple-barrel rocket launcher appears to have been used, which the Israelis say they subsequently destroyed. They then apparently hit every Iranian facility they know of in Syria to send a powerful message to Tehran.
But neither Israel nor Iran appear to want an all-out war at this stage.But neither Israel nor Iran appear to want an all-out war at this stage.
Nonetheless their strategic rivalry is clear. Tehran is seeking to establish itself as a military player in Syria to open up another potential front against Israel. And Israel is equally determined to prevent this.Nonetheless their strategic rivalry is clear. Tehran is seeking to establish itself as a military player in Syria to open up another potential front against Israel. And Israel is equally determined to prevent this.
Why does Israel hit Iranian interests in Syria? Why is Israel so worried about Iran's activities in Syria?
Iran has deployed hundreds of troops to the country. It says they are there as military advisers to the Syrian military. Israel's military had been anticipating an attack by Iranian forces after reportedly carrying out a number of strikes on their facilities in Syria in recent months. They included one on an airbase in April that killed seven Iranian troops.
Thousands of militiamen armed, trained and financed by Iran have also been fighting alongside Syrian soldiers. Israeli officials have repeatedly warned that they are determined to stop what they consider Iranian "military entrenchment" in the country.
While supporting Mr Assad, Iran has significantly increased its military presence in Syria - something Israel considers a direct threat. Iran has deployed hundreds of troops, ostensibly as military advisers to the Syrian military. Thousands of militiamen armed, trained and financed by Iran have also been battling rebel forces alongside Syrian soldiers.
Mr Lieberman stressed that while Israel had "no interest in escalation", it had to "be prepared for any scenario". Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Revolutionary Guards had moved advanced weapons to Syria, including surface-to-surface missiles and anti-aircraft batteries that would threaten Israeli fighter jets.
"We are facing a new reality where Iran is attacking Israel directly and trying to harm Israel's sovereignty and territories," he added. Mr Netanyahu's lobbying against the 2015 nuclear deal between Israel and six world powers, which US President Donald Trump abandoned on Tuesday, has raised tensions further with Tehran.
Mr Lieberman stressed that while Israel had "no interest in escalation", it had to "be prepared for any scenario". "We are facing a new reality where Iran is attacking Israel directly and trying to harm Israel's sovereignty and territories," he added.
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