Israeli warplanes hit Syrian target after mortar fire

JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says its warplanes have hit a position in Syria from where mortars were fired into the Israeli-held Golan Heights.

The army said yesterday that the mortars were likely errant fire from the fighting in neighboring Syria.

No injuries were reported from the mortars, which hit an open area near Israel's frontier fence. Israel's army said the Syrian government was responsible and it would "continue to act" to preserve Israel's sovereignty.

Israel has taken pains to stay out of the ongoing Syrian war, but has carried out similar reprisals on Syrian positions when errant fire has previously landed in Israeli-controlled territory.

Israel is also believed to have carried out airstrikes on arms shipments believed to be headed toward the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, a close ally of Syria.