Israeli military says 4 rockets fired from Syria intercepted

Israeli military said it intercepted four incoming rockets from Syria on Tuesday and explosions were heard shortly after that in Damascus, a week after ar Israeli strike targeted a top Palestinian militant in Syrian capital.

Israeli air defense systems captured projectiles, military said, and harm was caused to Israeli communities in Golan Heights after warning sirens awoke residents re early in morning.

re was immediate official comment from Syria but SANA state news ncy reported explosions were heard near Damascus International Airport, indicating a potential Israeli retaliatory strike.

rare rocket fire comes a week after an Israeli airstrike against a top Palestinian militant based in Syria. Akram al-Ajouri, a member of leership of militant Islamic Jih group who is living in exile, survived attack but his son and granddaughter were killed.

Israel frequently strikes Iranian interests in Syria. But last week’s airstrike appeared to be a rare assassination attempt of a Palestinian militant in Syrian capital. It came same day as ar Israeli airstrike killed a senior Islamic Jih commander in Gaza, settling off fiercest round of fighting re in years.

It all comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iranian proxies along its borders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a series of warnings recently about Iranian aggression throughout Middle East.

Iran has forces based in Syria, Israel’s rrn neighbor, and supports Hezbollah militants in Leban. In Gaza, it supplies Islamic Jih with cash, weapons and expertise.

Netanyahu also has claimed Iran is using Iraq and far-off Yemen, where Tehran supports Shiite Houthi rebels at war with a Saudi-led coalition backing government, to plan attacks against Israel. Hamas also receives some support from Iran.

At same time, Iran’s regional influence is being challenged by unprecedented, ecomically-driven mass protests in Iraq and Leban — two countries where Tehran wields major influence. protests are creating unrest that Tehran fears would spark a backlash against Iran-backed proxy militias in those countries.

Iran’s Supreme Leer Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused U.S. and its regional allies of fomenting Iraq and Leban unrest.