Israel bombed targets of the Syrian army, released a video showing four people disappearing in the explosion

Israeli warplanes and helicopters attacked military targets of the Syrian army last night, a few hours after the insertion of extremists from Syria who were trying to plant explosives was foiled, the Israeli army said.

In a military statement about the bombing of neighboring Syria, which the Israeli military rarely issues, it was stated that the targets were "observation posts, anti-aircraft artillery installations and command and control systems" in Syrian military bases.

Syria confirmed the strikes, saying Israeli helicopters fired missiles at Syrian military posts and that there was "material damage".

It happened at a time of heightened tension on Israel's northern border after a recent Israeli airstrike that killed a Lebanese Hezbollah fighter in Syria and the expectation of a response from the pro-Iranian Shiite organization.

Earlier on Monday, Israeli military spokesman Yonatan Konrikus said Israeli soldiers noticed "irregular" activity in the Golan Heights and opened fire on the extremists, some of whom were armed, after observing them planting explosives on the ground.

There is no official confirmation that the four attackers were killed, but the army released a video showing four people walking away from the wire fence at the border and then disappearing in a large explosion that engulfed the area.

The Israeli military did not say whether the four were linked to Iran or Hezbollah, two Syrian allies, but only that Israel held the Syrian government responsible for the incident.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing lawmakers from his conservative Likud party, said that Israel had "thwarted an attempt at sabotage on the Syrian front," announcing that the country would continue to "hurt all those who try to hurt us and all who hurt us."

Israel won the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 war and later annexed the territory.

Only the US has recognized Israel's annexation.