Violence from Syria spills over into Israel

Mortar shell hits Majdal Shams, while IDF troops take fire in the southern Golan Heights

The Syrian civil war was felt in Israel on Monday as, in two separate incidents, a mortar shell hit the town of Majdal Shams and an IDF unit came under fire in the southern Golan Heights, according to the army.

The unit that came under fire incurred no casualties and returned fire toward the source of the attack. The IDF said it believes the shooting was an inadvertent spillover from violence in Syria, not an intentional attack on Israeli forces.

The Israeli soldiers returned fire and reported that they hit at least one Syrian soldier, Israel Radio reported.

Since the start of the civil war in Syria in March 2011, dozens of mortar shells have landed in Israeli territory.

In the past, Israel has filed complaints with the peacekeeping forces in the Golan, requesting that the UN bring an end to the cross-border shelling.

In late October, two mortar shells landed near Tel Fares on the Israeli side of the Golan Heights.

While most incidents are unintentional spillovers, occasionally IDF soldiers and positions are purposely targeted.

In September, an Israeli army patrol took fire along the Syrian border in the northern Golan Heights. No injuries were reported in that incident.

In mid-August, after 10 shells landed in Israeli territory, the IDF launched a Tammuz missile, destroying a Syrian cannon that had fired at Israel.