The Israeli military launched a series of strikes targeting the Islamic Jihad movement in Syria and throughout Gaza, its spokesman confirmed on Twitter after Damascus’ air defenses intercepted hostile targets.

The attack on Syria took place close to midnight on Sunday, while Gaza was shelled earlier in the day. IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on Twitter that “terrorist targets” belonging to Islamic Jihad came under fire in a rare admission of strikes against Syria.

Also on rt.com Damascus comes under missile attack from Israeli-occupied Golan Heights

A Syrian military source cited by SANA state TV said that most of the missiles failed to reach their targets and were intercepted. Damascus and surrounding areas frequently come under fire from the occupied Golan Heights, with one attack in early February endangering a passenger plane.

Tel Aviv justified the attack as a necessary response to the shelling of southern Israel on Sunday from Gaza by “Iran-backed Islamic Jihad.” The escalation came after the IDF killed a man they claimed had been planting explosives at the border, and removed his body with a bulldozer, outraging many Palestinians.

Also on rt.com Israeli soldiers BULLDOZE body of slain Palestinian, cause uproar

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