A mortar or anti-tank missile fired from Syria killed an Israeli teenager and seriously wounded his father south of the Kuneitra crossing on the Golan Heights. The boy, identified as Mohammed Karkara, was apparently accompanying his father to work with a civilian crew doing maintenance work on the border fence.

Speaking to the press on a conference call organized by the Israel Project, Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Ben Reuven said the Syrian government bore direct responsibility for the killing.

“This a very, very severe event,” said Ben Reuven, former deputy commander of the IDF’s northern command.  “Syria is the regime of a sovereign country. It is their mission to keep the border with Israel quiet.”

“The responsibility is on the Assad regime. There is no question about it.”

Two other people were wounded, including the boy’s father who is in serious condition. The Times of Israel adds:

The IDF responded with tank fire at “Syrian military posts in the immediate vicinity,” IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said.

“This is not a case of errant fire but of an intended attack,” he said. “The IDF will continue to watch the northern border and react to developments in the field accordingly.”

The Golan Heights has been the scene of heavy fighting between forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad and numerous Al-Qaeda inspired radical jihadist groups. The IDF responded with tank fire.

There have been dozens of incidents in the past year in which mortars and gunfire have hit the Israeli side of the border, but this is the first time an Israeli civilian has been killed.

[Photo: The Israel Project]