Israel says a Syrian missile struck near its top-secret nuclear reactor, so it attacked Syria back

• Israel and Syria exchanged missile attacks early Thursday.
• Israel's military said a Syrian surface-to-missile exploded near its nuclear reactor.
• Israel said it attacked Syrian missile batteries in response, and Syria said it intercepted a strike.

Israel and Syria exchanged missile attacks early Thursday, with Israel's military saying that a Syrian surface-to-missile exploded near its top-secret nuclear reactor.

The Israeli military said a missile had landed in the country's southern Negev region, and that sirens went off in a village near Dimona, where the nuclear reactor is located.

An Israeli military spokesman said the missile landed around 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the missile, Reuters reported. There were no reports of any injuries or damage, Reuters added.

Israel said that it attacked missile batteries in Syria in response, including the one that launched the missile that struck near Dimona, Reuters reported.

And Syria's state news agency said that Syria's air defense system intercepted a strike from Israel in the suburbs of Damascus, Reuters reported.

Thursday's missile attacks mark the most serious military escalation between Israel and Syria in years, the Associated Press and The Times of London reported.

The Jerusalem Post reported that missile parts were found in a swimming pool in Ashalim in Negev.