TEL AVIV, January 21. /TASS/. Israel carried out strikes on Iranian military and intelligence sites in Syria on Monday in response to Tehran’s launching a surface-to-surface rocket on Israeli territory on Sunday, the Israeli Defense Forces said on Twitter.

"On Sunday, Iranian Quds Forces operating in Syria launched a surface-to-surface rocket from Syria aimed at Israel’s Golan Heights. The Iron Dome Aerial Defense System intercepted the rocket," it said.

In response, Israel targeted the Iranian Quds military sites in Syria such as munition storage sites, a military site located in the Damascus International Airport, an Iranian intelligence site and an Iranian military training camp.

"During our strike, dozens of Syrian surface-to-air missiles were launched, despite clear warnings to avoid such fire. In response, we also targeted several of the Syrian Armed Forces' aerial defense batteries," the statement said.

"By firing towards Israeli civilians, Iran once again proved that it is attempting to entrench itself in Syria, endangering the State of Israel & regional stability," the IDF said, vowing to "continue operating determinedly to thwart these attempts."

"We hold the Syrian regime responsible for everything taking place within Syria and warn them against targeting Israel or permitting others to target Israel from their soil. We are prepared for all scenarios and will continue operating as needed to defend Israeli civilians," it said.

On Sunday, Israel’s Iron Dome Aerial Defense System intercepted a surface-to-surface rocket launched by the Iranian Quds Forces operating in Syria. The rocket was aimed at the Golan Heights. The Israeli state-owned radio Kan said neither injuries nor damage were reported. The Syrian SANA news agency said earlier on Sunday that Syria’s air defenses had repelled an Israeli air strike in the country’s south.

On January 13, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that in order to prevent growing Iranian military presence in Syria, Israel was ready to enhance strikes on Iranian facilities in the neighboring country. He also admitted that Israel carried out a strike overnight to January 12 at a warehouse storing weapons at the international airport of Damascus. The premier said this move showed Israel’s readiness to prevent Iran’s efforts to entrench militarily in Syria.

Israel took control over the Golan Heights that had been part of Syria since 1944 after the Six-Day War in 1967. In 1981, Israel’s Knesset (parliament) passed a law on the Golan Heights unilaterally proclaiming Israel’s sovereignty over this territory. United Nations Security Council Resolution 497 of December 17, 1981, ruled that the annexation was null and void, having no international legal effect.