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At Golan Heights, Israel Eyes Syria Chaos At Golan Heights, Israel Eyes Syria Chaos
(about 11 hours later)
MOUNT AVITAL MILITARY BASE, Golan Heights — As Israel has heightened its presence in the Golan Heights with a new army division, the division’s commander said Wednesday that he had counted 15 intentional attacks from across the once-quiet Syrian frontier since March, most of them attributed to two “proxy groups,” which are supported by Hezbollah and Iran. MOUNT AVITAL MILITARY BASE, Golan Heights — As Israel has heightened its presence in the Golan Heights with a new army division, the division’s commander said Wednesday that he had counted 15 intentional attacks from across the once-quiet Syrian frontier since March, most of them attributed to two “proxy groups,” which are supported by Hezbollah and Iran.
The commander, Brig. Gen. Ofek Buchris, said the attacks — including the firing of rockets and the placement of roadside bombs near the border fence — are more nuisance than serious threat. There have also been about 100 instances since the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2011 in which Syrian Army ordnance has landed on the Israeli side of the fence. General Buchris said that Israel considered that unintentional “spillover.”The commander, Brig. Gen. Ofek Buchris, said the attacks — including the firing of rockets and the placement of roadside bombs near the border fence — are more nuisance than serious threat. There have also been about 100 instances since the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2011 in which Syrian Army ordnance has landed on the Israeli side of the fence. General Buchris said that Israel considered that unintentional “spillover.”
But military officials say rebel groups like Jabat al-Nusra now control the Syrian side of the 43-mile cease-fire line except for one Druze village. General Buchris said he was confident that for now neither the rebels nor President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militia assisting him, were interested in engaging Israel, but “we assume that sooner or later” that would change. But military officials say rebel groups like Jabhat al-Nusra now control the Syrian side of the 43-mile cease-fire line except for one Druse village. General Buchris said he was confident that for now neither the rebels nor President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militia assisting him, were interested in engaging Israel, but “we assume that sooner or later” that would change.
“It can be next week, it can be next month, it can be next year, it can be next decade,” General Buchris, whose Bashan division was created early this year, said of a possible Nusra attack.“It can be next week, it can be next month, it can be next year, it can be next decade,” General Buchris, whose Bashan division was created early this year, said of a possible Nusra attack.
“We prepare the area, we learn what’s happening on the other side, we prepare the border, doing the infrastructure and things like that, so we will be well prepared for the day it will be needed,” he added. “And we hope that this day will not come. We’re not going to do things that will make it sooner.”“We prepare the area, we learn what’s happening on the other side, we prepare the border, doing the infrastructure and things like that, so we will be well prepared for the day it will be needed,” he added. “And we hope that this day will not come. We’re not going to do things that will make it sooner.”
Syria and Israel remain technically at war, but until recently the 1974 cease-fire line was Israel’s most peaceful border. In a briefing for international journalists at this base near the line, military officials presented slides chronicling the month-by-month march of Syrian rebels capturing towns and villages on the other side throughout this year.Syria and Israel remain technically at war, but until recently the 1974 cease-fire line was Israel’s most peaceful border. In a briefing for international journalists at this base near the line, military officials presented slides chronicling the month-by-month march of Syrian rebels capturing towns and villages on the other side throughout this year.
They also showed a grainy black-and-white surveillance video of three men walking near the fence with what they said was a 40-pound roadside bomb that detonated March 1 in the first intentional attack. A similar explosion on March 18 wounded four Israeli soldiers. The most recent intentional attack, General Buchris said, was at the end of August.They also showed a grainy black-and-white surveillance video of three men walking near the fence with what they said was a 40-pound roadside bomb that detonated March 1 in the first intentional attack. A similar explosion on March 18 wounded four Israeli soldiers. The most recent intentional attack, General Buchris said, was at the end of August.
“It’s a proxy organization, so everyone can say it’s not us,” he explained. “Hezbollah gives them the I.E.D.s and the Iranians give them the inspiration,” he said, referring to improvised explosive devices, or roadside bombs.“It’s a proxy organization, so everyone can say it’s not us,” he explained. “Hezbollah gives them the I.E.D.s and the Iranians give them the inspiration,” he said, referring to improvised explosive devices, or roadside bombs.
Another video, which the officials said was made by Jabat al-Nusra, showed men collecting unexploded Israeli mines from the Syrian side, loading them into a truck, and detonating it in a huge fireball against a Syrian Army position. Another video, which the officials said was made by Jabhat al-Nusra, showed men collecting unexploded Israeli mines from the Syrian side, loading them into a truck, and detonating it in a huge fireball against a Syrian Army position.
Standing at a lookout point, where artillery fire could be heard and smoke plumes seen not far away, General Buchris nonetheless said he considered the Golan Heights — which Israel captured in the 1967 war and later annexed in a move that was not internationally recognized — safe for residents and tourists.Standing at a lookout point, where artillery fire could be heard and smoke plumes seen not far away, General Buchris nonetheless said he considered the Golan Heights — which Israel captured in the 1967 war and later annexed in a move that was not internationally recognized — safe for residents and tourists.
“This is the Middle East,” he said. “Maybe tomorrow someone will attack. Why not go on a tour today?”“This is the Middle East,” he said. “Maybe tomorrow someone will attack. Why not go on a tour today?”