The Arab League has welcomed the formation of a new Syrian opposition group, but stopped short of giving it full recognition as the representative of the Syrian people.

The League, meeting in Egypt, urged regional and international groups to recognize the new coalition.

Earlier Monday, the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council became the first to formally recognize newly united opposition group that seeks to topple President Bashar al-Assad.

Anti-Assad figures had struggled to achieve unity under pressure from U.S. diplomats and officials from Qatar. The opposition members say they will not engage in dialogue with Mr. Assad's government.

Also Monday, the Israeli military said one of its tanks fired into Syria and scored “direct hits” against Syrian mobile artillery in response to a Syrian mortar shell that struck the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.

It was the second time in two days that Israel has responded to what it said was errant Syrian fire.

In a separate incident, a Syrian fighter jet bombed a rebel-held town near the border with Turkey.

Video showed a large plume of smoke rising from the site in Ras al-Ayn, where are least four people died in the attack. Rebels took control of the northeastern town last week.

Turkey has seen a surge in Syrian refugees, including 11,000 who crossed the border late last week to escape the fighting.