The Washington Post: Syria Fires Missiles at Israeli Warplanes on Bombing Run

For the most part Israel has been restrained about intervening in the Syrian civil war since 2011, other than attacking weapon transports to Hezbollah, a political party and militant group that along with Iran and Russia has sided with the Syrian government. “In a rare communique, in which Israel took responsibility for the usually clandestine airstrikes, the Israeli Air Force confirmed that its warplanes had struck several targets in neighboring Syria,” reports William Booth for the Washington Post, adding that Syria in turn launched anti-aircraft missiles. “Israel then responded to the incoming Syrian rockets by deploying its own anti-air missiles.” Syria claims to have struck down at least one Israeli jet, which Israel denies, and one Syrian missile was intercepted. Israel's anti-missile technology was funded with US assistance. “Israel fears that as the Syrian civil war possibly winds down, Hezbollah could receive a windfall in sophisticated arms from Assad and Iran,” Booth explains, adding that Israel continues to occupy most of Golan Heights, which it captured from Syria in 1967. The spread of weapons ensures that tensions will continue in the Middle East even after civil war in Syria comes to an end. – YaleGlobal