Three Syrian mortar shells explode on Israeli Golan

Army says fire is spillover from fighting within Syria; no injuries or damage reported

By ToI Staff 13 October 2015, 9:29 am

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An Israeli soldier stands on top of an armored personnel carrier stationed on the Israeli side of the Golan Heights on August 21, 2015. (AFP Photo/Ahmad Gharabli)

Three mortar shells exploded Tuesday morning in Israeli territory in the northern Golan Heights, the IDF said, in apparent spillover from the Syrian civil war.

The shells struck on the Israeli side of the Golan, very close to the Syrian border. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The army said the shells were not aimed at Israel.

“The rockets were errant fire as a result of the internal fighting in Syria. Forces are searching the area,” the IDF said in a statement.

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. 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.

Israel has occasionally responded by targeting Syrian army positions, but analysts have suggested Jerusalem may desist from doing so with the recent entry of Russia into the internecine conflict.