Syria defends targeting of Israeli military vehicle in Golan Heights

In a letter sent to the UN Security Council on Friday, Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari said Syria exercised its right to self-defense and would respond immediately to any other violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
 
In his letter, Ja'afari also said, “At 1:10 a.m. local time on May 21 (2210 GMT on May 20), an Israeli vehicle crossed the cease-fire line and proceeded towards the village of Bi'r Ajam, which is located in the liberated area of the Golan within the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic.”
 
He added, "The presence of armed terrorist groups in that village led the Syrian armed forces to target the abovementioned Israeli vehicle."
 
According to the Syrian army, the Israeli military fired two rockets from the occupied site of Tal al-Faras into Syria in retaliation for the destruction of the vehicle.
 
On May 21, the Chief of the General Staff of the Israeli military, Lieutenant General Benny Gantz, issued a stern warning to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, saying, “If he deteriorates (the situation on) the Golan Heights, he will have to bear the consequences.”
 
The Israeli regime recently increased its military activities in the Golan Heights, where clashes between the Syrian army and the militant groups continue.
 
The Syrian crisis has dragged on for over two years, and many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel, have been killed in the foreign-sponsored militancy.
 
On May 18, Assad said militants from 29 different countries are fighting against the government in different parts of the country.