Yesterday, the Israel Defense Forces attacked two Syrian Arab Army military installations at the Israeli-Syrian border crossing in the Al-Quneitra Governate. The attacks were a reprisal for mortar shells wounding an IDF soldier at a command post in the Golan Heights. A source from the Syrian Arab Army stated that it was “not likely” that they shelled IDF positions because they would be firing on their own troops. The source also added that soldiers near the border crossing have been shelled continuously by Jabhat Al-Nusra militants for two weeks.
As a result of the IDF artillery fire, Syrian Arab Army contingents retreated from their positions; thus, allowing for Jabhat Al-Nusra militants to seize the border crossing. According to Syrian Opposition sources, the militants were backed by Syrian Revolutionary Forces (SRF) and militias aligned with Al-Qaeda linked Al-Nusra Front. Very little gunfire was exchanged between the militants and the SAA, as the latter suffered causalities from the IDF bombardment.
This is not the first Israel has attacked SAA positions inside Syria: in early 2014, the Israeli Air Force conducted airstrikes in the Syrian province of Dara’a. The airstrikes targeted the Syrian Arab Army at the Dara’a Central Prison; this attack forced an SAA retreat , resulting in Al-Nusra Front militants taking control of the prison.
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