Israel fires back at Syria in the Golan

Reuters is reporting that Israeli troops opened fire at Syrian positions on the Golan Heights on Tuesday morning after its own troops came under fire from Syria.

Israeli troops shot at a target across the Syrian frontier on Tuesday in response to gunfire that struck its forces in the Golan Heights, the Israeli military said.

A statement said a military vehicle was damaged by shots fired from Syria but that there were no injuries. It said that soldiers "returned precise fire".

Gunfire incidents across the frontier from Syria have recurred in past months during an escalating a civil war there in which rebels have sought to topple President Bashar al-Assad.

Israel's Army Radio said Tuesday's was the third consecutive cross-border shooting this week.

The Israeli military added in its statement that it viewed these incidents "with concern".

It would be nice if we had a side to take in Syria. Unfortunately, we don't. Each alternative is equally bad for us, and that's why our government is doing all it can to stay out of this war.