A regime military official and a foreign ministry spokesman alleged that a commander who heads the Palestinian division of Iran’s elite Quds Force, identified as Saeed Izodi, orchestrated the attack that was carried out by the Islamic Jihad group.
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Syria’s state-run television network said at least five civilians were killed in the Israeli air strike on an area in the strategic southwestern province of Quneitra close to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
A Syrian army source said the strike, at 10.30am local time, hit a auto in a village, killing five civilians.
The projectiles, which Israel news website Ynet reported were the first to strike the Galilee since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, hit open areas and caused brush fires, but no injuries. No group claimed responsibility for the attempted attack, but an Israeli official told the Times of Israel that Iran-a key sponsor of Hezbollah-was suspected of involvement.
These Israeli attacks were relatively extensive, compared to previous IDF responses to fire from Syria. The strike was carried out 10-15 kilometers inside Syrian territory, in an area controlled by the Syrian Army.
The second day of military operations continues as Israeli aircraft attacks target in Syria.
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said his government was considering a US request for six Royal Australian Air Force jets based in Dubai to bomb Islamic State (Isis) targets in Syria.
Islamic Jihad has publicly acknowledged receiving support from Iran, a connection Israel has sought to highlight as it campaigns against the proposed US deal with Iran.
But Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said the latest barrage was launched from positions under the control of President Bashar al-Assad’s forces.
Israel’s military said it used artillery and air power to strike 14 Syrian military posts and facilities in the Golan. The group mainly operates in Gaza but its headquarters are located in the Syrian capital, Damascus.
Islamic Jihad denied the Israeli allegation, Reuters reported.
Though it isn’t likely to become a full-scale war right now, all sides are testing their enemies’ limits, which could drag Israel further into the fighting in Syria.
Israel and the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah.
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“For us this is a clear act of aggression meant by the Iranians to use the chaos in Syria to escalate tensions in the region”, he said.
