Israeli warplanes have struck deep inside Syria, targeting what Israeli officials say was a camp used to train Islamic militants. The airstrikes just outside Damascus came hours after a Palestinian suicide bomber killed 19 people in Israel.
The overnight airstrikes are believed to be the first such Israeli attacks in Syria in more than two decades.
Syria says the airstrikes targeted a civilian site, and says it will file an urgent compaint with the United Nations Security Council about the air raid.
Israeli spokesman Ra'anan Gissin said Islamic Jihad and other Islamic militant groups that attack Israelis enjoy the support and backing of countries like Syria and Iran.
He said the Jewish state has made a decision to expand operations against such groups, and that militants now have no sanctuary.
An Islamic Jihad spokesman denied the group has any training camps or combatants in Syria.
Earlier, Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for Saturday's suicide bombing in the Israeli city of Haifa.
The militant group described the bomber as a woman lawyer from the West Bank town of Jenin, who was avenging the killing of her cousin and brother by Israeli soldiers.
Israeli forces are said to have destroyed the bomber's house early today.
Arab Israelis, and at least four children, were among the dead in the lunchtime bombing at the popular beach restaurant. Scores of other people were wounded -- some seriously.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat condemned the bombing, and Prime Minister-designate Ahmed Korei urged Palestinians to stop such attacks against civilians.