Four Islamic State Militants Killed In Clashes With Israeli Forces Near Golan Heights

Israeli forces reportedly killed four Islamic State militants in Syria in the first direct clash between the country and the jihadi group, the media reported.

The militants opened fire on a military patrol on the Israeli side of the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, a military spokesman was quoted by the Independent online. Lt Col Peter Lerner said the patrol came under machine gun and mortar fire early on Sunday (27 November).

They returned fire towards Syria before an Israeli aircraft engaged the militants, striking a machine gun-armed car and killing its passengers. All of the gunmen were suspected militants from "Shuhada al-Yarmouk," an Islamic State offshoot which controls the area.

None of the Israeli soldiers, from the Golani Brigade, were wounded in the clash.

Israel seized 1,200 sq km (460 sq miles) of the Golan from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community.

With inputs from IANS