Israel hits back at Assad’s Syria after 13-year old killed

The Israeli air force has hit back hard against Syrian positions after a vehicle travelling in the Golan Heights was attacked, leaving an Israeli teenager dead and two others injured.

In Sunday night’s strong retaliation, nine military targets and rocket-launching sites were bombed within Israel’s northern neighbour, including an offensive against the Syrian military’s headquarters.

It comes after explosives rained down on an Israeli military vehicle carrying civilians, among them 13-year-old Mohammed Karaka, an Arab Israeli citizen who died from his wounds.

Israeli authorities said the attack was targeted and intentional, dismissing the idea that it was simply fall-out from the civil war.

“The Assad regime now sees that it is responsible for the area under its control,” said Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon on Monday. “We will respond aggressively and harshly against any provocation and violation of our sovereignty.”

Israeli action against Syria has been sporadic. In March, the Israeli army bombed Syrian military targets after IDF four soldiers were injured in a roadside bomb attack. Earlier this month, the Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepted two mortars fired at Israel from southern Syria.