Israel launches air strikes on Syria after thwarted border attack

Israel launched air strikes on Syrian military targets in southern Syria late on Aug. 3, after thwarting an attack near the Israeli-occupied sector of the Golan Heights.    

In Damascus, the state-run news agency Sana said Israeli helicopters rocketed Syrian army positions near Quneitra in the south but caused only material damage. It also said air defences had gone into action near the Syrian capital.

The Israeli army said its fighters jets, attack helicopters and other warplanes struck Syrian army positions in retaliation for the attempt to lay explosives in the Golan Heights.    

"The targets struck include observation posts and intelligence collection systems, anti-aircraft artillery facilities and command and control systems in SAF [Syrian Armed Forces] bases," the army said in statement.    

"The IDF holds the Syrian government responsible for all activities on Syrian soil, and will continue operating with determination against any violation of Israeli sovereignty," it said.    

Tensions are already high between bitter rivals Israel and Syria.    

Last month, Israeli army helicopters struck military targets in southern Syria in retaliation for earlier "munitions" fire towards Israel.    

Israel did not directly blame Syrian forces for the munitions fire, but said it held the Damascus government responsible.       

And earlier on Aug. 3, the Israeli army said it had killed four men laying explosives near the Israeli-occupied sector of the Golan Heights.            

"They were inside Israeli territory but beyond the fence," military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus told journalists in a telephone briefing.    

He said an Israeli commando unit lying in wait attacked the...