*DAMASCUS: *Syria said Israel carried out a missile attack that causedcasualties on Monday, in what Israel’s army said was a retaliatory strike.
“An Israeli missile targeted Tel al-Shaar in Quneitra,” the Syrian newsagency said, adding a “military vehicle was targeted and there are wounded”.
The Israeli military confirmed it carried out an air strike in Syria inretaliation for what it said was anti-aircraft fire targeting one of itsfighter jets.
The Syrian province of Quneitra includes the Golan Heights, most of whichis occupied and annexed by Israel.
“Earlier today, Syrian anti-aircraft systems fired at an IDF fighter jetduring a routine flight in northern Israel,” the Israel Defense Forces saidin a statement.
It said the projectile missed and the plane completed its journey before“the IDF targeted the launcher that had fired” at the jet.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, saidthe Israeli missile was “reportedly fired from the occupied part of theGolan”.
Its director, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP that three Syrian soldiers werewounded.
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Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria, most of themagainst what it says are Iranian and Hezbollah targets.
Hezbollah is a Lebanese group that supports Syria’s President Basharal-Assad, who is also backed by Tehran.
The Israeli strike comes amid soaring tensions in the region betweenIsrael’s arch-foe Iran and the United States.
The stand-off has been simmering since the United States last year withdrewfrom the 2015 nuclear treaty which Iran reached with major world powers.
In recent days the US accused Iran of alleged threats and last weekdeployed an aircraft carrier group and B-52 bombers to the Gulf. -APP/AFP
