SYRIA accused Israel of aiding al-Qaida terrorists after it bombed army positions in the Golan Heights on Saturday and Sunday.

Al-Qaida affiliated Hetesh extremists and the Western-backed Free Syrian Army launched a major offensive against Ba’ath City on Saturday right after Israeli air strikes.

Tel Aviv claimed that stray artillery fire from Syria had landed in the Israeli-occupied west of the Golan Heights.

While admitting it was unclear which side fired the shells, the Israeli Defence Ministry held Damascus responsible and retaliated against Syrian forces.

Syrian troops said the missiles hit government and residential buildings and army positions, reportedly destroying two tanks and killing two soldiers.

The ensuing militant offensive almost overran the town before troops were able to drive them back yesterday.

The Syrian Defence Ministry denounced “the Israeli enemy’s continuing support for terrorist organisations.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Saturday’s attack the following day, claiming the country’s forces had acted in self-defence.

But later yesterday Israel claimed that it was attacked again. Syrian military sources disputed this, reporting that Israel targeted the Old Government Building — now a makeshift military hospital.

The latest Israeli aggression came ahead of the anniversary of the 1974 liberation of the Syrian city of Quneitra from Israeli occupation following the 1973 war.

Russia has repeatedly accused the US and its various proxy forces of obstructing Syrian operations against Isis and other terror groups and needlessly prolonging the war.