The instruction to return fire was issued after mortars fired from across the northern border landed on an Israeli army post in the vicinity, lightly injuring two soldiers, the military said.

The IDF returned fire with a Tamuz missile which reportedly destroyed a Syrian cannon, and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon warned that even unintended spillover from the Syrian fighting, which this appeared to be, would not be tolerated.

Initial reports suggested the shells that struck the Israeli post were errantly fired during intense battles between Syrian government forces and insurgents in areas adjacent to the border, an army spokeswoman told Xinhua.

She said the army lodged a complaint with the United Nations in the wake of the incident.

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon has repeatedly declared that fire targeting Israeli military personnel, whether intentional or stray, would be met with fire.

Return fire towards targets in Syria requires the approval of the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv due to the potential consequences of such action.

Dozens of errant mortar shells have landed in northern Israel over the last year, as a result of the civil war in Syria. And last November, an Israeli soldier on the Golan was slightly wounded by gunfire from across the border.