Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Israel: Suspects from Syria enter Israel army post


JERUSALEM (AP) -- Two Syrian suspects briefly infiltrated an unmanned Israeli military post on the border between Syria and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, the military said Wednesday.
When Israeli troops approached the post, they were fired upon from inside Syria, prompting the soldiers to return fire, the army said. The suspects later left the post, it added. The incident took place late Tuesday, the army said.
It was not the first time suspects from Syria have tried to overrun unmanned Israeli posts since Syrian fighting erupted in 2011. Israel has been wary of Syrian violence spilling across the border into Israeli-controlled territory.
Syrian mortar shells have landed inside Israeli-held areas, but Israel believes them to be errant shots. Israel has occasionally accused Syria of aiming at Israeli targets, and Israeli troops have returned fire.
On Tuesday, the military said a number of what appeared to be mortar shells struck the Golan Heights, causing no damage.
Israel is believed to have carried out four airstrikes in Syria in recent months against weapons thought to be destined for Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.