Syrian regime and Israel exchange fire on Golan Heights

Israeli war planes struck Syrian army positions early Tuesday, after stray fire from its embattled neighbour hit occupied parts of the Golan Heights.

Israel Defense Forces targeted "artillery positions of Syrian regime on the central Syrian Golan Heights" in response to "a projectile" which had hit the northern Golan on Monday.

An Israel military spokeswoman said the projectile was most likely not intentional.

It was the fourth such incident in nine days, as fighting in war-torn Syria spills over into occupied areas in the Golan Heights, despite a ceasefire being in place.

The Syrian regime later claimed it had shot down an Israeli war plane and drone, which was swiftly denied by Israel.

The Israeli army holds the Syrian government accountable for any fire from any party on territories it occupies.

Israel seized 1,200 square kilometres of the Golan Heights from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community.