Getting closer-rich Iran and the Lebanese “Hezbollah” on the Israeli borders. Skirmish on the Golan heights indicate that Israel’s nervousness. Also, compared to any other country, Israel is bracing itself.
On Monday morning, the Israeli army was able to give the all-clear: The explosions, the residents of the Golan heights in the distance, had heard on Syrian territory beyond the annexed areas, declined in all probability to fighting between rebel groups and the Syrian army. A few projectiles were apparently flown across the border and had slight damage to the facilities of the UN peacekeeping troops on the Golan. But they were apparently straightforward; in addition, it was appeared to be strays. The Israeli military could not find the corresponding projectiles.
If the army decided to counter-attack, is controversial. Media agencies cite reports that Israel had carried out an attack on Syrian army units. A Syrian soldier was killed. The Israeli army denies that there had been such an attack. Apparently, the army has attacked, but before that, Syrian positions. The Israeli newspaper “Haaretz” citing the military. A Syrian military to trucks and two artillery pieces had been taken. Also it was a reaction to misguided missiles on Israeli territory. In April, the Israeli air force had responded to a shelling of the Golan heights with an attack on the airport of Damascus.
Also on Saturday, Israel will have to misdirected bullets, the military is responding. This, according to “Haaretz” citing Syrian media, had been killed two people.
After the attack, the Syrian army had released a statement. This condemned the Israeli “Aggression”. At the same time, Syria, Israel, warned, “to repeat such a behavior”.
In battle: rebels shelled the Syrian army
Israeli-Jordanian cooperation
The strays and counter-attacks are a clear indication of how tense the situation in Israel’s Northern border area. The attention of the military depends not only on Syria but also on the border with Lebanon. For some time, according to “Haaretz”, were Israel and Jordan diplomatically closely. Both countries share a concern that Iran might work with the help of its revolutionary guards from Syria closer to the border of the two countries. Also the Hezbollah, they fear, could seize the opportunity to position themselves permanently in the vicinity of the border of the two States.
The attention of Israel had followed an Iranian missile attack on the position of the terrorist organization “Islamic state” (IS) in the past week. For the attacks, Iran had used missiles of the type Zulfiqar. These have a range of around 700 kilometers. Now the Israeli military is concerned, the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah, could come into possession of these rockets and to Israeli positions on the attack.
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Israel attacks targets in Syria
The message of the rockets
The attack, – quotes the Internet-the magazine “Al-Monitor,” a high-ranking, unnamed Israeli officer, had been a warning, especially to the Sunni fighters in Syria. “But he is not exhausted. It was also a message to the entire Region and the local actors – including the US-coalition and, of course, of Israel.”
Just as the military was concerned about the strong presence of Shiite forces on the Syrian-Iraqi border. “This indicates that now a further step is to create a Shiite-dominated strip of Tehran to the Mediterranean.”
Plays a special role in this company, apparently, the Hezbollah. On the Lebanese border, Israel is building, according to Al-Monitor his defensive positions massive. Walls are poured cement walls, new connection roads were built, the radar systems installed. At the same time, commando units were played, multi-layered System of air defense, re-directed, scenarios of a possible war.
Israel is strong, that Hezbollah is in possession of a highly developed air defense. That would make it difficult for the Israeli military is very, reconnaissance flights over Lebanese territory.
Combat training in real conditions
In addition, Hezbollah has been able to train in the past years due to the war in Syria, thousands of fighters in real battle conditions. In cooperation with Russian and Iranian forces, they are likely to be able to your technical and logistical skills and their command structures, Refine, expand.
Above all, however, has expanded the staging area for the Hezbollah presence in Syria significantly. Your Hand could be foreseen up to the Golan. So a Hezbollah spokesman with Al-Monitor, will weaken the Israeli defense significantly: “A widened Front will force Israel to divide its troops to another area, so that they thin out. A Front of Naqura (a Lebanese village on the Mediterranean sea, directly on the border with Israel, the Anm. d. Red.) until the Golan is Israel in case of war, cause greater difficulties than in the past.”
Also ideologically prepared: Hezbollah supporters at a parade in the South of Lebanon
Conflict prevention
To not have a confrontation there is, however, inevitable. Lebanon is weakened, not least by the nearly two million Syrian refugees that it hosts. It is also grown in the Lebanese society, the resistance against a war of Hezbollah against Israel.
Conversely, such a war would give Israel a significant challenge. Open is the extent to which the military can protect the population against rocket attacks. Also, there is the Israeli military for a long time of combat experience in the Golan heights.
In this respect, there is much to suggest that both sides should avoid war for the time being. But the fact is that Iran, by the war in Syria is much closer to Israel than ever before.