Israel launches airstrikes on Syria

Israeli soldiers are seen next to mobile artillery units near the border with Syria in the Golan Heights January 27, 2015.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) announced striking Syrian army artillery targets late on Tuesday night in response to an earlier rocket attack on Golan Heights and Mount Hermon.

Israeli jets struck several targets in Syria in response to Hezbollah rocket fire into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the IDF said. The exchange came as Iran warned Tel Aviv of crossing a “red line” with the murder of an Iranian general in Syria. “The IDF views the Syrian regime as responsible for what occurs in its territory, and will act at any time and any way it sees fit to protect the citizens of Israel,” Israel's retaliation followed two rocket attacks believed to be perpetrated by Hezbollah in the northern Golan Heights on Tuesday afternoon. While the projectiles exploded in open territory and caused no damage or casualties, some 1,000 visitors to the Mount Hermon ski resort still fled for cover. The exchange of fire came as Iran officially warned Israel of a response after Tel Aviv crossed a “red line” when it killed an Iranian general in an airstrike on Syria earlier this month. “We told the Americans that the leaders of the Zionist regime should await the consequences of their act,” Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said, as quoted by IRNA news agency. “The Zionist regime has crossed our red lines.” The minister said Iran delivered the message to Israel via US diplomatic channels.