Not specifying whether the target belonged to the rebels or regime, IDF forces strikes the Syria outpost that earlier fired a mortar towards Israel, which fell in the “buffer zone” adjacent to Israel’s border fence.

By i24NEWS

The Israel Defense Force said it on on Friday that it struck a Syrian outpost after a stray mortar shell landed near Israel’s border in a designated “buffer zone” adjacent to the eastern part of the security fence.

The errant fire that fell east of Israel’s security fence was a result of spillover from internal fighting between the Syrian regime and rebels.

In this illustrative photo, American soldiers fire an Israeli-made M120 mortar, similar to that shot at Israel from Syria. – Photo: Wikimedia, SSGT AARON D. ALLMON II, USAF

While the army said that they targeted the post identified as having launched the shell, it did not specify whether it was from the rebels or regime fighters.

“The IDF is not involved in the internal fighting in Syria,” the statement said. “However, it will continue to implement the 1974 Separation of forces Agreement that includes maintaining the buffer zone.”

Israel and Syria are still technically at war, as they have never signed a peace treaty.

Israel also fired at a Syrian artillery position at the start of the week after a mortar round fell close to the Israeli border. 

Israel seized 1,200 square kilometers (460 square miles) of the Golan Heights from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967 and annexed it in 1981. The move was never recognized by the international community.

The armistice line on the Golan was largely quiet for decades until the civil war erupted in Syria in 2011.

The Israeli side of the Golan has since seen regular spillover fire, and Israel has carried out dozens of air strikes on Syrian armed forces and their allies.

IDF artillery fires in reprisal to earlier attack. (file) – Photo IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

Israel says its strikes aim to stop advanced weapons deliveries to Hezbollah, a Lebanese armed group allied to the Syrian government and with which the Jewish state fought a devastating war in 2006.

View original i24NEWS publication at:
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/178838-180706-idf-strikes-syria-outpost-after-stray-mortar-shell-falls-near-border-buffer-zone