Israel fires back at Syria after mortar shell lands in Golan Heights

JERUSALEM – The Israeli military says its forces fired into Syria after a mortar shell struck the Golan Heights.

The military says the mortar shell landed near army positions in the Israeli-controlled territory but caused no damage or injuries. The military says it responded with artillery strikes at the source of the Syrian fire early Monday.

Mortar shells have exploded sporadically inside Israeli territory since the conflict in neighbouring Syria began, sometimes causing minor damage.

Israel believes most of the fire were errant shots but has at times accused Syria of aiming at Israeli targets. Israeli troops have returned fire on several occasions.

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war. The frontier with Syria had been largely quiet for decades before the civil war erupted.