The Israeli military stated that it launched an attack on targets within Syria earlier on Wednesday, hitting anti-aircraft gun emplacements in response to missiles launched from Syria.

The Israeli Defense Forces tweeted that a siren sounded in the Arab city of Umm Fahim in northern Israel after a Syrian missile launch, but it exploded in mid air.

In response to the anti-aircraft missiles launched from Syria earlier tonight, we have just attacked Syria's surface to air missile targets, including radar and anti-aircraft gun emplacements,"the Israeli Defense Forces said.

Syrian official media reported that the country's air defense system has activated fire against Israel near Damascus.It quoted military sources as saying that Israeli airstrikes began shortly before 1:00 am and were accompanied by ground to ground missile attacks from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights at 1:10 am.

Our air defense system fought against enemy missiles and shot down some of them,"said the Syrian news agency SANASANA said that one soldier was killed, five others were injured, and there were "material losses".

Israel rarely comments on its airstrikes in Syria, but has repeatedly stated that it will not allow its arch rival Iran to expand its footprint in the country.

Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes on Syrian territory, targeting government positions as well as Iranian backed allied and Hezbollah fighters.

Source: Military of Strong Countries