Maj. Gen. Yair Golan
Maj. Gen. Yair GolanIsrael news photo: Flash 90

Major General Yair Golan, Head of Northern Command, delivered a calming message Monday, and denied that there were "winds of war" in northern Israel.

"Along with the preparedness and state of alert in the North," he as he participated in the annual Golani Run.

"It is always good to prepare and train, but there are no winds of war, and therefore the Golani Brigade tradition continues as usual. I am happy to have been a part of it," he said.

Israeli strikes on Syrian military targets at the weekend killed at least 15 soldiers and dozens more were unaccounted for, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights watchdog said on Monday.

Syria has vowed to take retaliatory action.