Israel carried out an airstrike on the Syrian border on Sunday after four militants were spotted carrying a bomb towards Israeli troops. The Israeli military said that a group of “armed terrorist” was seen moving the explosive towards the border with the likely intention of attacking Israeli soldiers.
Israeli aircraft then "targeted the squad preventing the attack," though no casualty figures were given for the strike. It also was not immediately clear which armed group in Syria had attempted the attack. The Israeli military said it was the first such attack this year, although there have been others in the past since Syria's civil war began in 2011.
Israel has tried to stay out of the war in Syria, but repeatedly has threatened to take military action to prevent Syria from transferring sophisticated weapons to its ally, Hezbollah. Israel is believed to have carried out several airstrikes in Syria that have targeted sophisticated weapons systems, including Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles and Iranian-made missiles.
There were reports in Arab media last week that Israel had carried out another attack on such weapons in Syria. Israeli officials have not commented. But just hours before the border strike Sunday night, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon warned Syria and Iran against arming Hezbollah with such weapons.
"We will not allow the transfer of quality weapons to terror groups led by Hezbollah and we know how to reach them and those that dispatch them at any time," Yaalon said. He added that Iran is continuously trying to find ways to arm Hezbollah with the weapons.
Syria War In March
(01 of08)
Open Image ModalSmoke rises from the Dareyya district after a Syrian Air Force barrel bomb attack in Damascus, Syria, on March 6, 2015. (credit:Majd el-Ahmad/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
(02 of08)
Open Image ModalDamaged buildings are seen following clashes between regime forces and the Damascus Front in Damascus, Syria on March 6, 2015. (credit:Salih Mahmud Leyla/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
(03 of08)
Open Image ModalA Syrian man prays over the grave of his son, who was killed during shelling, at a cemetery in the rebel-held Damascus suburb of Douma, on March 5, 2015. (credit:ABD DOUMANY/AFP/Getty Images)
(04 of08)
Open Image ModalA Syrian boy who took shelter in Turkey with his family crosses into Kobani through Mursitpinar border crossing in the Suruc district of Sanliurfa, Turkey on March 6, 2015. (credit:Halil Fidan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
(05 of08)
Open Image ModalSyrian fire fighters put out a blaze at the scene of a reported barrel bomb strike by Syrian government forces on the Qadi Askar rebel-held district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, March 5, 2015. (credit:ZEIN AL-RIFAI/AFP/Getty Images)
(06 of08)
Open Image ModalSyrians inspect the debris of houses in Dareyya district after a Syrian Air Force barrel bomb attack in Damascus, Syria, on March 3, 2015. (credit:Stringer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
(07 of08)
Open Image ModalA rebel fighter holds his rifle inside a damaged building during clashes between regime forces and the Damascus Front in Damascus, Syria on March 6, 2015. (credit:Salih Mahmud Leyla/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
(08 of08)
Open Image ModalA Syrian girl who took shelter in Turkey sleeps on the ground before she crosses into Kobani through Mursitpinar border crossing in the Suruc district of Sanliurfa, Turkey on March 6, 2015. (credit: Halil Fidan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)