Near the Syria border
Near the Syria borderIsrael news photo: Flash 90

The civil war in Syria once again spilled over into Israel on Saturday night.

The latest incident occurred as IDF troops were patrolling along the border fence with Syria and their jeep was hit with some bullets that were fired from the Syrian side of the border. No one was hurt, but the IDF acted in accordance with the new rules of engagement and responded shortly thereafter with artillery fire at a building on the other side of the border, from which it is believed the bullets were fired.

The building, which is under the control of President Bashar Al-Assad’s army, was hit, but it is not known if any Syrian soldiers were hurt. The clashes between soldiers and rebels on the Syrian side continued after the incident.

The IDF changed the rules of engagement along the Syrian border after the fighting in Syria spilled over into Israel more than once.

The new orders instruct soldiers to respond if fire from Syria is dangerous and persistent.

Israel has twice in the past week fired across the ceasefire line, established in 1974, in response to stray fire from Syrian troops fighting rebels inside the zone.

On Thursday, Syrian shots were fired at an IDF post in the Golan Heights. A soldier was very lightly wounded.

Reports last week indicated that the Syrian army has pledged to Israel that its soldiers will avoid firing at the Israeli side of the border.

The United Nations protested to the Syrian government this week, for claiming it had UN permission to attack rebel opponents in the Golan Heights demilitarized zone.