IDF attacks artillery targets belonging to the Syrian army, in retaliation for earlier rocket attacks on the Golan region.

The IDF on Tuesday night attacked artillery targets belonging to the Syrian army, in retaliation for rocket attacks earlier on Tuesday towards the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon.

"[The rocket fire] was a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Israel," the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement, noting that direct hits at the targets were identified.

“The IDF holds the Syrian regime responsible for what occurs in its territory, and will work at any time and in any way it sees fit to protect the citizens of Israel,” the statement noted.

Meanwhile, residents of the northern Golan Heights reported shortly after midnight that sirens had been sounded throughout the area, including in Majdal Shams, Odem, El-ron, Buq'ata, Masade, Neve Ativ and Nimrod.

However, no rockets or mortar shells were found to have landed in Israeli territory, and the IDF said it remains unclear why the sirens went off.

In the attack earlier Tuesday afternoon, the IDF confirmed that two rockets had been fired at Israel.

IDF spokesman Peter Lerner said in a text message the Syrian fire was "intentional, not spillover from the Syrian civil war".

IDF forces returned fire. The IDF Spokesperson's Office confirmed at 2:00 p.m. that it had successfully struck the source of the rocket fire.

The rocket fire follows reports aired less than 24 hours ago that the IDF has been building trenches along the Syrian border ahead of possible escalation with any number of rebel groups and outposts which pose a threat against Israel.

Northern residents and the IDF have been on high alert throughout the week, after an IAF airstrike in the Syrian Golan Heights killed a senior Hezbollah commander and an Iranian Revolutionary Guards general last Sunday, along with several other Hezbollah and Iranian fighters.

Hezbollah responded by vowing an attack on Israel, but made clear it does not want another full-scale war.