Explosion heard on Golan Heights

Israel Defense Forces soldiers in the Golan Heights were searching along the Syrian border for mortar shells Friday after forces reported hearing an explosion in the area. No injuries or damage were reported, according to Israel Radio.

The Israel-Syria border has enjoyed over a week of relative quiet, after the IDF shot down a Syrian fighter plane, which had been flying above the Israeli Golan Heights, on September 23.

The army said the plane had infiltrated Israeli airspace before it was shot down.

It was the first such incident since the war with Lebanon in 1982, an army official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity, because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Other military officials said it was the first such incident since 1985.

Shells from Syria have landed sporadically on the Israeli side of the Golan Heights for the past several weeks as Syrian regime forces and rebel factions battle for the Quneitra crossing, with the rebels reportedly gaining control of almost the entire Syrian border with Israel.

Ilan Ben Zion and The Associated Press contributed to this report.