A mortar exploded on the Israeli side of the Golan Heights security fence, in what defense officials told TV7 was errant fire from ongoing battles raging between the Syrian military and rebel forces. No injuries or damage were reported as the mortar exploded in an open area. In response to the mortar-fire, the IDF launched an attack on a Syrian military outpost, on the outskirts of the border-city of Quneitra. Reports indicated extensive damage to the post, yet no casualties were mentioned. The IDF spokesperson’s unit released a statement following the Israeli attack saying, “The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to undermine the sovereignty of the State of Israel and the security of its citizens.” The statement added that “The IDF views the Syrian regime as responsible to what is happening on the ground.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a ceremony marking 50 years of settlements in the Jordan Valley, commented on the incident declaring that if Israel is attack, it will immediately retaliate, as the Jewish state will not accept trickles of rocket fire toward its territory. Netanyahu said, “We see what is happening a short distance north of here when they take up a position, or try to, over the border. We have a clear policy: Whoever tries to hurt us, we will hurt them. We will not tolerate trickles and if they attack us, we return fire, and this does not take a lot of time,” the Israeli leader warned the country’s enemies.
Meanwhile in Washington, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis welcomed his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman for a work visit, several hours after the top Israeli defense official held a meeting at the White House with National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster. During Lieberman’s meeting with Mattis, the Israeli Minister declared that any attack on Israel’s security would be met with a decisive response and recommended to Israel’s enemies not to test Jerusalem’s patience and red lines. Lieberman further underscored, during the meeting, that Israel would not allow Iran or its proxies to establish a base along the border with Syria in the Golan Heights, and will do whatever is necessary to thwart “these dangerous attempts.”