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Israel Attacks Syrian Positions in Golan Heights Israeli Strikes on Syrian Army Sites Raise Concern About Entanglement
(about 3 hours later)
JERUSALEM — Israeli airstrikes against several Syrian Army positions across the decades-old cease-fire line in the Golan Heights on Wednesday came as a specific response to a bomb attack against Israeli forces along the frontier a day earlier, according to Israeli officials. But for many here, the unusually sharp exchange signaled the possibility of a broader Israeli slide into the regional turmoil. JERUSALEM — Israeli airstrikes against several Syrian Army positions across the decades-old cease-fire line in the Golan Heights on Wednesday came as a specific response to a bomb attack against Israeli forces along the frontier a day earlier, according to Israeli officials. But for many here, the unusually sharp exchange signaled the possibility of a broader Israeli slide into regional turmoil.
The airstrikes, against a Syrian Army training facility, a military headquarters and artillery batteries, were the first in Syrian territory that Israel has openly acknowledged since the Syrian civil war began three years ago. The bomb attack on Tuesday that prompted the strikes was the first to cause Israeli casualties, wounding four soldiers, one severely. Both events raised the stakes along a frontier that has been mostly quiet for 40 years. The airstrikes, against a Syrian Army training facility, a military headquarters and artillery batteries, were the first in Syrian territory that Israel has openly acknowledged since the Syrian civil war began three years ago. The bombing on Tuesday that prompted the strikes was the first to cause Israeli casualties, wounding four soldiers, one severely. Both events raised the stakes along a frontier that has been largely quiet for 40 years.
The Syrian armed forces said in a statement quoted by the official Syrian news agency, SANA, that the airstrikes killed one person and wounded seven. The statement described the Israeli attacks as a breach of the separation-of-forces agreement that has been in place since the cease-fire that was reached after the 1973 war, which left a portion of the strategic Syrian plateau under Israeli control. The Syrian armed forces said in a statement quoted by the official Syrian news agency, SANA, that the airstrikes killed one person and wounded seven. The statement described the Israeli attacks as a breach of the separation-of-forces agreement that has been in place since the cease-fire that was reached after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. It left a portion of the strategic Syrian plateau under Israeli control.
The statement added that the Syrian leadership viewed Israel’s “new aggression” as an attempt to divert attention from the recent victories of the Syrian Army, particularly in retaking the town of Yabrud. It warned that Israel’s actions endangered stability in the border area and could open up “all possibilities.”The statement added that the Syrian leadership viewed Israel’s “new aggression” as an attempt to divert attention from the recent victories of the Syrian Army, particularly in retaking the town of Yabrud. It warned that Israel’s actions endangered stability in the border area and could open up “all possibilities.”
The Israeli military said the Syrian positions it struck had “aided and abetted” the bomb attack on Tuesday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel told his cabinet on Wednesday, “Our policy is very clear: We attack those who attack us.” The Israeli military said the Syrian positions it struck had “aided and abetted” the bomb attack on Tuesday. And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet on Wednesday, “Our policy is very clear: We attack those who attack us.”
Moshe Yaalon, the defense minister, warned in a statement that Israel viewed the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad as “responsible for whatever happens in his territory, and if he continues to cooperate with terrorist elements who are striving to harm Israel, we will continue to exact a heavy price in a manner that will bring him to regret his actions.” Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon warned in a statement that Israel viewed President Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria as “responsible for whatever happens in his territory, and if he continues to cooperate with terrorist elements who are striving to harm Israel, we will continue to exact a heavy price in a manner that will bring him to regret his actions.”
Israel has declared a policy of neutrality regarding Mr. Assad’s struggle against rebel forces, but at the same time, it has been carrying out a covert campaign to prevent the transfer of sophisticated weapons from Syria to Hezbollah, the militant Lebanese Shiite organization. Israel and Hezbollah engaged in a monthlong war in 2006 and Hezbollah is currently fighting in Syria on the side of the Assad government. Israel has declared a policy of neutrality regarding Mr. Assad’s struggle against rebel forces, but at the same time, it has been carrying out a covert campaign to prevent the transfer of sophisticated weapons from Syria to Hezbollah, the militant Lebanese Shiite organization.
Israel and Hezbollah engaged in a monthlong war in 2006, and Hezbollah is fighting in Syria on the side of the Assad government.
At least half a dozen airstrikes against weapons convoys and warehouses, mostly in Syrian territory, have been attributed to Israel over the past year. Israel has refused to confirm or deny involvement, largely to stave off retaliation. But in his remarks on Wednesday, Mr. Netanyahu said that Israel was, to the best of its ability, “interdicting the transfer of weapons by sea, air and land, and this activity will continue.”At least half a dozen airstrikes against weapons convoys and warehouses, mostly in Syrian territory, have been attributed to Israel over the past year. Israel has refused to confirm or deny involvement, largely to stave off retaliation. But in his remarks on Wednesday, Mr. Netanyahu said that Israel was, to the best of its ability, “interdicting the transfer of weapons by sea, air and land, and this activity will continue.”
Further complicating the situation, a senior Israeli military officer told reporters recently that only a third of the Israeli-Syrian frontier in the Golan Heights was under the control of Syrian government forces, and the rest was controlled by up to 20 different rebel groups, including radical jihadi forces. Mr. Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the frontier “has been filling up recently with jihadi elements and Hezbollah,” presenting a new challenge to Israel. Further complicating the situation, a senior Israeli military officer told reporters recently that only a third of the Israeli-Syrian frontier in the Golan Heights was under the control of Syrian government forces, and the rest was controlled by up to 20 rebel groups, including radical jihadi forces. Mr. Netanyahu said Tuesday that the frontier “has been filling up recently with jihadi elements and Hezbollah,” presenting a new challenge to Israel.
But Wednesday’s airstrikes came in a different context from the covert campaign against the weapons transfers, as did Israel’s pointed confirmation of the action. “It was a retaliatory attack and it was meant to deter,” said Ron Ben-Yishai, the military affairs analyst for Ynet, an Israeli news site. He described the strikes as “a moderate and very calculated escalation.” Yet Wednesday’s airstrikes came in a different context from the covert campaign against the weapons transfers, as did Israel’s pointed confirmation of the action. “It was a retaliatory attack and it was meant to deter,” said Ron Ben-Yishai, the military affairs analyst for Ynet, an Israeli news site. He described the strikes as “a moderate and very calculated escalation.”
Many Israelis are concerned that Israel — by its own actions or those of others — is being inexorably pulled toward a more serious confrontation with Hezbollah or Syrian forces.Many Israelis are concerned that Israel — by its own actions or those of others — is being inexorably pulled toward a more serious confrontation with Hezbollah or Syrian forces.
After Hezbollah accused Israel of striking one of its positions near Lebanon’s border with Syria in late February and threatened to retaliate, Israeli forces identified two men it described as “Hezbollah-affiliated terrorists” trying to plant a bomb on the Syrian side of the border fence in the Golan Heights and fired at them. Last Friday, a large explosive device was detonated against an Israeli Army vehicle patrolling adjacent to the Israeli-Lebanese border and Israeli military officials said they suspected that Hezbollah was behind the attack. Then, Israel responded with tank and artillery fire against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. After Hezbollah accused Israel of striking one of its positions near Lebanon’s border with Syria in late February and threatened to retaliate, Israeli forces fired at two men it described as “Hezbollah-affiliated terrorists” who were trying to plant a bomb on the Syrian side of the border fence in the Golan Heights. Last Friday, a large explosive device was detonated against an Israeli Army vehicle patrolling near the Lebanese border. Israel then responded with tank and artillery fire against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
Shlomo Brom, a retired general at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, said in a recent interview that Israel was allowing itself to do more to stop advanced weapons from reaching Hezbollah because Hezbollah and Syria were weakened by their embroilment in the Syrian civil war. But he said Israeli actions “could bring us to a point where we cross the line,” compelling Hezbollah to retaliate and risking further Israeli entanglement. Shlomo Brom, a retired general at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, said in a recent interview that Israel was allowing itself to do more to stop advanced weapons from reaching Hezbollah because Hezbollah and Syria were weakened by their embroilment in the Syrian civil war.
Alex Fishman, the military affairs analyst for the popular newspaper Yediot Aharonot, wrote in an article published on Wednesday, “The Syrians and Hezbollah have been dragging Israel into a war of attrition on the northern border at a timing and pace that they have dictated,” adding, “The Israeli security establishment has been dragged into this brawl with its eyes wide open.” He added, however, that Israeli actions “could bring us to a point where we cross the line,” compelling Hezbollah to retaliate and risking further entanglement.
Alex Fishman, the military affairs analyst for the newspaper Yediot Aharonot, wrote in an article published on Wednesday: “The Israeli security establishment has been dragged into this brawl with its eyes wide open.”