Syria gunfire hits Israel-occupied Golan: army

JERUSALEM - Agence France-Presse

A United Nations observation tower overlooking Syria is seen near the Kuneitra border crossing between Israel and Syria, on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights May 8, 2013. Syrian rebels said on Tuesday they were holding four Filipino U.N. peacekeepers on the ceasefire line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights after clashes in the area had put them in danger. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Shots fired from Syria hit the central Israeli-occupied Golan Heights overnight, a military spokeswoman said Monday morning, causing no harm or damage.

According to the spokeswoman, the shots were from small arms, and "most likely were stray bullets, we don't know if it was intentional." The spokeswoman would not confirm local media reports that the shots hit near an Israeli military patrol. The army had not fired back, she said, and Israel had submitted a complaint to the United Nations force in the region.

The Golan Heights have been tense since the beginning of the conflict in Syria more than two years ago.

However, there have been only minor flare-ups in the region to date, with Syrian shells crashing in the occupied Golan and Israel firing in retaliation.

In recent weeks there were four incidents of fire coming from Syria and straying across the ceasefire line.

Last week projectiles from Syria hit Mount Hermon, causing the popular site on the Israeli-occupied Golan to close down for visitors.

Israel, which is technically at war with Syria, seized 1,200 square kilometres of the strategic Golan Heights during the 1967 Six-Day War, which it later annexed, a move never recognised by the international community.