November 11, 2012

The Israel Defense Forces have fired warning shots at Syria after a mortar shell from Syria hit an IDF post in the Golan Heights.

It reportedly is the first time since the 1973 Yom Kippur War that Israel has fired missiles into Syrian territory.

The Syrian mortar was not targeting Israel, but was fired “as part of the internal conflict inside Syria,” the IDF acknowledged in a statement.

“Fire emanating from Syria into Israel will not be tolerated and shall be responded to with severity,” the IDF said in a complaint filed with the relevant United Nations forces operating in the area, according to the IDF Spokespersons office.  

Last week, three mortar shells fired from Syria landed in Israel; a military vehicle on patrol in the Golan was hit by Syrian fire; and three Syrian tanks rolled into the demilitarized zone between Israel and Syria. 

sraeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Army Radio on Sunday before the most recent incident that Israel would respond if Syria again allowed its civil war to cross over into Israel.

“The message has certainly been relayed. To tell you confidently that no shell will fall? I cannot. If a shell falls, we will respond,” Barak said.
 

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