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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 in Syria, in response to an Iranian rocket attack on the occupied Golan Heights. Israel says it has struck almost all of Iran's military infrastructure in Syria following an Iranian rocket attack.
The Israeli military said 20 rockets were fired by Iranian Revolutionary Guards at its positions overnight. The Israeli military said 20 rockets were fired at its positions in the occupied Golan Heights overnight.
It retaliated by targeting what it said were Iranian weapons depots, logistics sites and intelligence centres. It responded by launching what a spokesman called "one of the broadest aerial operations in recent years".
There was no immediate comment from Iran, which has sent troops to Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad. There was no immediate comment from Iran, whose deployment of troops to Syria to back the government in the country's civil war has alarmed Israel.
Syrian state media reported that the army's air defences had repelled an "Israeli aggression" on Syrian territory, shooting down scores of missiles. Iran has repeatedly called for an end to the existence of the Jewish state.
But a military source told the official Sana news agency that some missiles had hit a number of air defence battalions, radars and an ammunition depot. 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.
Israel has vowed to stop what it considers its arch-enemy's "military entrenchment" in Syria, and it is believed to have carried out several strikes on Iranian facilities, including one on an airbase in April that killed seven Revolutionary Guards.
What happened in the Golan?What happened in the Golan?
Israel occupied most of the Syrian Golan Heights in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed it in a move not recognised internationally.Israel occupied most of the Syrian Golan Heights 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 about 20 rockets had been launched at its forward posts in the occupied Golan by members of the Revolutionary Guards' overseas operations arm, the Quds Force. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that early on Thursday morning about 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.
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 the others fell short of their targets. No injuries or damage were reported.
The rocket attack was ordered by the commander of the Quds Force, Gen Qassem Soleimani, Col Conricus said, adding that it had "not achieved its purpose".
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 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.
It did not identify the forces responsible, but it said the rocket attack came after Israeli forces bombarded Baath, a Syrian-controlled town in in the Golan demilitarized zone. It did not identify those responsible, but said the rocket attack came after Israeli forces bombarded Baath, a Syrian-controlled town in the Golan demilitarized zone.
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.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:An IDF statement said fighter jets had struck "dozens of military targets" belonging to Iran inside Syria. They 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 several Syrian military air defence systems after they fired at the Israeli fighter jets despite an Israeli "warning".
Syrian state news agency Sana reported that the army's air defences had shot down scores of missiles but that some missiles had hit a number of air defence battalions, radars and an ammunition depot.
Later, Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman told a conference in the town of Herzliya that the IDF had "hit almost all of the Iranian infrastructure in Syria".Later, Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman 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."
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. Russia, which is also supporting the Syrian government in the civil war, said that Israel had 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 latest confrontation came a day after a reported Israeli strike in Kiswah, which the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said had targeted an Iranian weapons depot and killed 15 pro-government fighters, including eight Revolutionary Guards. The Syrian Observatory reported that at least 23 people were killed in the strikes, including five Syrian soldiers and 19 other allied fighters.
Why does Israel hit Iranian interests? 'No-one wants an all-out war'
Iran is Israel's arch-foe and has repeatedly called for an end to the existence of the Jewish state. By Jonathan Marcus, defence correspondent, BBC News
It is a key ally of Syria's president and has deployed hundreds of troops to the country. It says they are there as military advisers to the Syrian military. These events have tactical and strategic dimensions.
Thousands of militiamen armed, trained and financed by Iran have also been fighting alongside the Syrian army. 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 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.
Why does Israel hit Iranian interests in Syria?
Iran has deployed hundreds of troops to the country. It says they are there as military advisers to the Syrian military.
Thousands of militiamen armed, trained and financed by Iran have also been fighting alongside Syrian soldiers.
While supporting Mr Assad, Iran has significantly increased its military presence in Syria - something Israel considers a direct threat.While supporting Mr Assad, Iran has significantly increased its military presence in Syria - something Israel considers a direct threat.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously warned that Israel might go to war with Iran "sooner rather than later" to stop it attacking. Mr Lieberman stressed that while Israel had "no interest in escalation", it had to "be prepared for any scenario".
Mr Netanyahu was also instrumental in persuading the US to end its participation in the landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. "We are facing a new reality where Iran is attacking Israel directly and trying to harm Israel's sovereignty and territories," he added.