Speed Reads

happening now

Israeli Defense Forces says Iran fired 20 rockets at army in Golan Heights

Just after midnight Thursday, Iranian forces in Syria fired roughly 20 rockets or projectiles at the Israeli army in Golan Heights, Israeli Defense Forces said.

A spokesman told reporters that most of the rockets were intercepted by Israeli defenses, and there was minimal damage done. Iran is backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's civil war, and Israel has warned Tehran not to establish a permanent military presence in Syria.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military said it spotted "irregular activity" by Iranian forces in Syria, and authorities in the Golan Heights were told to prepare bomb shelters and mobilize some reservist forces. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967, a move not recognized by the international community.