The Israeli military said it attacked the missile launcher and air defense systems in Syria in response to a rocket launched from the neighboring country that triggered airstrikes near its nuclear reactor.
The Associated Press reported that the Syrian strike in Israel probably involved Iran, which has troops and proxies in Syria. The attacks mark the worst violence between Israel and Syria in recent years.
The Israeli military would not say whether the missile received was intercepted by its missile defense system, but said no damage had been reported.
The Syrian news agency reported that four soldiers were injured during the Israeli strike near Damascus.
Iran has not claimed responsibility or commented. The AP notes that an Iranian hardline newspaper published an opinion piece over the weekend by an analyst suggesting it targeted Israel’s nuclear facility after Tehran blamed an Israeli attack on its Natanz nuclear site earlier this month.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin (Bibi) NetanyahuMORE said that Israel will not allow Iran to develop the capacity to develop nuclear weapons. Iran has claimed that its nuclear program has peaceful purposes.
Thursday’s incident comes amid attempts by the United States to revive the international nuclear deal with Iran.