Israel fires artillery shells at Syrian forces

Israeli forces in the Golan Heights have fired artillery shells at Syrian troops in the second direct clash between the hostile neighbors since the Syrian crisis began in March 2011.

An Israeli army spokeswoman, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Israeli artillery fired into Syria early on Sunday after gunfire from Syria hit an army vehicle, AFP reported.

There were no reports of injuries or casualties from the gunfire on the vehicle.

On November 12, Israeli tanks struck a Syrian artillery launcher after a stray mortar shell flew into the Israel-held territory.

The Israeli regime seized the Syrian territory on the strategically important Golan Heights in the 1967 war. Tel Aviv annexed the territory on December 14, 1981 — a move which has been met with international condemnation.