The Israeli military has carried out airstrikes on a number of military targets inside Syria in response to a cross-border attack that left an Israeli teenager dead, authorities have said.

In a statement early on Monday, the military said nine targets were struck and "direct hits were confirmed."

"Yesterday's attack was an unprovoked act of aggression against Israel, and a direct continuation to recent attacks that occurred in the area," said Peter Lerner, a military spokesman, referring to the death of a 15-year-old boy in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights in a mortar attack launched from neighboring Syria.

He said Israel "will not tolerate any attempt to breach Israel's sovereignty and will act in order to safeguard the civilians of the state of Israel."

Two other people were wounded in the mortar attack - the first incident along the volatile area since the Syrian war erupted more than three years ago.

It remained unclear whether the Syrian military or opposition forces had carried out the attack.

But Israel said it held Damascus responsible for any attacks emanating from its territory, and claimed Sunday's attack was intentional.

PHOTO CAPTION

Israeli soldiers are seen on their Merkava tank positioned near the Quneitra checkpoint on the border with Syria in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, on June 22, 2014

Aljazeera