The Lies of War have Started : Israel shells Syrian City of Baath from Golan Heights but this is spun into Syrian attack on Israel because the city was defended

Strikes have been reported across the border between the Israeli-occupied and the Syrian portions of the Golan Heights. Syrian media says Israeli shells hit its territory, while Israel reports it was targeted by Iranian missiles.

The shells were fired from the Israeli-controlled area towards the city of Baath in northern Quneitra, Syria’s state SANA news agency reported. There have been no reports of injuries as a result of the attack, it said.

Within minutes of the reported shelling, the Israeli military said that sirens were heard in the occupied Golan Heights, without providing any details as to what triggered the alert.

“The details are being looked into and will be given shortly,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote on Twitter.

It is unclear so far which of the incidents came first.

Israeli media reported that the sirens might have been activated as the Iron Dome missile defense system was deployed to shoot down incoming projectiles. There have also been unconfirmed reports of explosions on the Israeli side.

Footage posted by The Jerusalem Post military correspondent Anna Ahronheim on Twitter shows sirens going off in the village of Majdal Shams, north of the Golan Heights.

FROM STOP THE WAR

President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal with Iran and to institute severe sanctions against it compromises the entire international framework for nonviolent conflict resolution and could lead to another catastrophic war in the Middle East. It also puts into question the de-escalation process on the Korean peninsula. Trump's willingness to scrap a deal which ensured that Iran did not develop nuclear weapons - despite pressure from the other signatories to the agreement who all want to keep it - suggests that the US can at any time renege on its promises.

The decision gives an even greater urgency for the national demonstration against Trump's visit - Together against Trump - which is scheduled for the 13th July at 2-7pm in Central London. More details tbc.

In the words of Stop the War convenor Lindsey German: “Trump is showing his true colours here as a warmonger not a peacemaker. This is an extremely dangerous development which presages more war not less in the region. Anti-war campaigners are part of a mass coalition which is organising to protest Trump’s visit in July and to make sure that he is aware of opposition to his plans. Opposition to war means opposition to Trump.”

We are also calling on all groups and supporters to urgently organise public rallies in advance of Trump's visit as part of Stop the War Coalition's national tour titled No to Trump, No to War. If you can set up a meeting in your area, please contact us at office@stopwar.org.uk.