Israel strikes Syria near annexed Golan Heights

DAY

The Israeli army on Monday shelled the positions of a pro-Iranian group in southern Syria near the part of the Golan Heights annexed by Israel, the second strike targeting this area in a week, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH). 

According to the OSDH, an NGO with a vast network of sources in Syria, the “Israeli ground forces” bombarded a position near the town of Quneïtra, where there were fighters of the “Syrian Resistance for the Liberation of the Golan”, a group affiliated with the Lebanese Hezbollah movement and supported by Iran.

The NGO did not mention any casualties during these strikes.

Two media close to the Syrian government mentioned an “Israeli aggression” in the vicinity of Qouneïtra.

On April 18, the Israeli army bombarded the same area, also targeting positions of pro-Iranian groups, without causing any casualties.< /p>

And on the night of April 8-9, Israel struck Syria in response to rocket fire towards the annexed part of the Golan Heights, after similar fire from neighboring Lebanon and the Palestinian Gaza Strip.

At least one of these rockets was intercepted by Israeli air defense. Two others had fallen in vacant lots in the part of the Golan annexed by Israel.

Conquered in 1967 after the Six Day War between the Jewish state and its Arab neighbors, this region of 1200 km2, bordering Lebanon, is a strategic area patrolled by Israeli soldiers.

Its annexation by Israel has never been recognized by the international community.

Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Israel launched hundreds of airstrikes against war-torn Syria, mainly targeting forces backed by Iran and Hezbollah, sworn enemies of Israel.

Syrian army regained control of the southern part of Qouneïtra in 2018, five years after it was taken by the rebels.