Israel has confirmed it targeted Iranian targets in Syria in a series of airstrikes.
Israeli Defence Forces claimed it was done in retaliation after Iranian Quds Forces - an elite unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guards - earlier launched a surface-to-surface rocket from Syria aimed at Israel’s Golan Heights.
The rocket was shot down by Israeli air defence systems, with authorities sharing footage of the incident captured by skiers in the area:
This is what’s been happening:
On Sunday, Iranian Quds Forces operating in Syria launched a surface-to-surface rocket from Syria aimed at Israel’s Golan Heights. The Iron Dome Aerial Defense System intercepted the rocket. pic.twitter.com/P7yvkpR6An— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) January 21, 2019
In the early hours of the morning, the IDF confirmed it was targeting Iranian sites in Syrian territory.
Witnesses in the Syrian capital Damascus said several loud explosions were heard in the early hours.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported that 11 pro-government fighters were killed in the strike.
Sites targeted by the Israeli strikes included an Iranian military training camp and munition storage sites.
These are the Iranian Quds military sites in Syria that we targeted in response:
?? Munition storage sites
?? Military site located in the Damascus International Airport
?? Iranian intelligence site
?? Iranian military training camp pic.twitter.com/pzHQv81l1C— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) January 21, 2019
Syrian state media reported that many of the Israeli missiles had been shot down.
In a statement, the IDF accused Iran of "attempting to entrench itself in Syria" and "endangering the state of Israel".
They added: "We hold the Syrian regime responsible for everything taking place within Syria and warn them against targeting Israel or permitting others to target Israel from their soil.
"We are prepared for all scenarios and will continue operating as needed to defend Israeli civilians."
There have long been tensions between Iran and Israel, with the situation having intensified due to Iranian involvement in the Syrian conflict.
Iran has supported Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad's government in the long-running civil war in Syria.
While Israel is not officially involved in the war, it has conducted strikes against Hezbollah and Iranian forces.
