A mortar round hit a minefield on the Israeli side of the Golan Heights on Monday, causing no damage or injuries, but drawing an Israeli retaliatory strike, the IDF said.
The explosion was apparently caused by a stray shell fired during fighting in Syria, according to a military official.
The IDF said the shell struck the central Golan Heights, close to the security fence with Syria.
In response, the IAF targeted a Syrian army launcher on the Syrian side of the Golan.
The Syrian Golan has been the site of intense fighting in recent years between Assad regime forces and the Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate.
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More recently, the area has seen burgeoning activity by Hezbollah and Iran’s al-Quds Force aimed at opening a new potential front against Israel in any future conflict.
A number of mortars have landed in Israeli territory as a result of spillover fighting over the last several years, raising fears among residents near the border.
The IDF often responds to fire that crosses into Israel by striking Syrian army posts.
Israel maintains a policy of holding Damascus responsible for all fire from Syria into Israel regardless of the source of the fire.
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