Two rockets launched from Syrian territory toward the Golan Heights on Tuesday marked the first such incident in over a year and were swiftly followed by a Houthi missile launched from Yemen, setting off alarms across central Israel. Though neither attack caused injuries, Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz declared that a full retaliation against the Syrian government would follow.
Responding to the Golan incident, Israeli forces fired artillery at the source of the launch near Tasil, roughly 12 kilometers from the Israeli border. The military also carried out a wave of airstrikes in southern Syria targeting weapons systems it said were under the control of the regime now led by Ahmed al-Sharaa.
“The Syrian regime is accountable for everything that happens on its soil and will be held responsible for continued aggression originating from there,” the IDF said in a statement.
Katz issued a separate declaration, placing personal responsibility on Sharaa: “Israel holds Sharaa directly responsible for every rocket fired and every threat against our citizens. The full response will come soon. We will not return to the situation that existed before October 7.”
The two rockets fired from Syria landed near Ramat Magshimim, with warning sirens also sounding in the nearby town of Hispin. Authorities said both impacts occurred in open areas.
The Syrian foreign ministry claimed it had no confirmation of the rocket launches but condemned Israel’s retaliatory strikes, saying they inflicted “severe human and material damage” and constituted a breach of sovereignty. It called for international intervention, asserting Syria was actively working to contain militant groups in its south and was not a danger to others in the region.
“This is a time for calm and political solutions,” the ministry’s statement added. “We urge the global community to take action to prevent further attacks and support efforts to restore regional stability.”
The attack marked the first rocket fire from Syrian territory since May 2024, when Syria was still under the rule of Iran-backed Bashar al-Assad. That changed seven months later when a radical faction led by Sharaa overthrew Assad in a surprise coup.
Although the United States once offered a reward for Sharaa’s capture, it has since shifted its stance, lifting Assad-era sanctions and recognizing Sharaa’s regime. Reports now suggest Sharaa is set to address the UN General Assembly this September—something no Syrian head of state has done in nearly six decades.
Despite the apparent U.S. pivot, Israel has maintained a cautious posture. After Assad’s removal, Israeli troops were stationed inside the buffer zone separating the two countries. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes across Syrian territory have continued unabated.
Later on Tuesday, just 20 minutes after the Syrian attack, a Houthi missile triggered warning sirens across central Israel, including in Tel Aviv. The IDF confirmed that the projectile was intercepted, but not before residents received early alerts via push notifications.
Authorities also reported that fragments—either from the Houthi missile or from the interceptor—landed in the city of Modiin. Police responded to secure and remove debris from the area. Sirens also briefly blared in Nof HaGalil and other towns near Nazareth, which were later deemed false alarms caused by misidentification of potential threats.
In line with routine protocol, Ben Gurion Airport suspended takeoffs and landings for 25 minutes following the Houthi launch.
The Houthis, aligned with Iran and known for their slogan “Death to America, Death to Israel, a Curse on the Jews,” have been targeting Israel and international shipping since November 2023. Their strikes tapered off after a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in January 2025, by which time they had launched more than 40 ballistic missiles and a wide array of drones and cruise missiles—one of which killed a civilian and wounded several others in Tel Aviv.
Since Israel renewed its offensive in Gaza on March 18, the Houthis have launched an additional 45 ballistic missiles and at least 10 drones. While a number of those attacks were intercepted or fell short, the frequency of launches has stirred continued concern among Israeli defense officials.
{Matzav.com}