Fire erupts in occupied Golan Heights after rocket launch from Syria

JERUSALEM

A fire broke out late Thursday in the occupied Golan Heights following the launch of a rocket from Syrian territory, according to Israeli media reports.

Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth daily cited the Golan Regional Council as saying that a rocket launched from Syria exploded in the Dalit Junction area.

“A fire broke out where it landed, and fire crews headed for the scene,” the newspaper added.

The extent of injuries remains unreported.

There was no comment from Syria, which frequently faces Israeli airstrikes targeting its forces along with Iranian troops in the country.

While it is rare for rockets to be launched from Syria into the plateau, the Lebanese Hezbollah group has claimed responsibility for attacking Israeli targets in the occupied region on multiple occasions.

There are growing fears of a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah amid an exchange of cross-border attacks between the two sides.

The escalation comes against the backdrop of a deadly Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip which has killed more than 38,300 people since last October, following an attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio