«Israeli» Army on High Alert in Golan Heights as Syria Intensifies Op in Daraa

Local Editor

In light of the intensified battles in southern Syria and the country's army's advances towards the "Israeli" border, the "Israel" Occupation Forces [IOF] have been put on high alert in the disputed area of the Golan Heights, Haaretz reported.

While Tel Aviv is said not to be expecting a direct confrontation with the Syrian Arab Army, it is preparing for potential collateral damage or other side-effects from the military's assault in Daraa province, which is sixty kilometers away from the "Israeli" entity's border.

Within this context, the IOF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot left for Washington on June 28 for brief talks with his US counterpart, Joseph Dunford.

On July 1, the security cabinet is set to gather to discuss the entity's preparedness for a potential war along the country's northern border.

Reacting to a massive influx of Syrian asylum-seekers in the "Israeli" entity's north, War Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that even though Tel Aviv wouldn't accept refugees, it was ready to provide humanitarian aid.

According to an IOF statement, aid was transferred to four different sites on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights during an overnight operation.

According to a statement released by the IOF Spokesperson's Unit, the IOF "is monitoring the events in southern Syria and is preparing for a variety of scenarios, including continued humanitarian assistance to fleeing Syrians. We will not allow passage of Syrians fleeing the country and will continue to defend Israel's security interests."

"Israel" occupied the Golan Heights from Syria during the Six-Day War in 1967 and annexed the territory in 1981. The international community and the UN have not recognized the "Israeli" annexation, calling the decision to impose "Israeli" "laws, jurisdiction and administration" over the territory "null and void and without international legal effect".

Responding to the UN's condemnation, "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that Tel Aviv would not retreat to the 1967 lines because they were "indefensible," adding that the Golan Heights would "remain in the hands of ‘Israel' forever."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team