Israel fires on Syria in response to strikes from within its territory

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday announced that they had begun shelling Syrian territory in response to a series of launches targeting its territory from that country.

"A number of launches from Syria aimed for Israel were identified a short while ago. Part of the launches crossed into Israeli territory and presumably fell in open areas," the IDF stated. A subsequent update confirmed that "IDF soldiers are responding with artillery and mortar shells toward the origin of the launching in Syria."

The IDF did not identify the party responsible for the strikes. Jerusalem is currently conducting military operations against terror group Hamas in the Gaza Strip in response to a recent incursion on its territory by jihadi forces. Israel has also pursued strikes against the Lebanon-based Hezbollah in the wake of the colossal raid.

Syria, for its part, is largely under the control of President Bashar al-Assad, though the country has been mired in civil war for more than a decade. The Assad government does not appear to have commented on the matter as of press time.

Israel and Syria have not fought a full-scale war since the Yom Kippur War that ended in 1973. Syria does not recognize Israel.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.