IDF: Rockets That Hit Kinneret Were Fired by Islamic State

The IDF has determined that it was Islamic State terrorists who fired Grad rockets at Israel from Syrian territory on Wednesday. The rockets landed harmlessly in Lake Kinneret, and there were no injuries or damage reported.

Earlier, Israeli security officials had assumed that the rockets were fired accidentally at Israel, veering off course as the Syrian army continues to battle rebel groups in southern Syria, but media sources have now reported otherwise.

It was not clear why anti-missile defense systems did not activate to shoot down the incoming missiles. In response to the missiles, the IDF blasted an Islamic State position in southern Syria, from where the rockets were fired. The rockets fell in the water, near the lake’s eastern coast. Shortly after 5:00 p.m., a Red Alert warning siren was sounded in several communities in the area of the Kinneret. In a statement, the IDF said that it would continue “to act against all those who attempt to harm our sovereignty, and threaten the security of its residents.”

This was the third day in a row that such warning sirens were sounded in the area. On Monday, two SS-21 missiles were fired at Israeli territory from Syria. An Israeli anti-rocket missile was fired at the incoming missiles, but it exploded before it reached its target. The Syrian missiles did not crash in Israeli territory, officials said. On Tuesday, sirens sounded again when a Syrian military plane entered Israeli airspace. That plane was shot down by Israeli anti-aircraft missiles. The plane’s pilot was said to have been killed.