Soldier Killed as Israel Bombs Syria Army after Golan Attack

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Israel launched air raids against Syrian army positions early Wednesday and issued a stark warning to Damascus just hours after a bomb on the occupied Golan Heights wounded four Israeli soldiers.

The Syrian army said one soldier had been killed and seven others wounded in strikes on its bases in the Quneitra region, which it denounced as "acts of aggression" that endangered regional stability.

The bombing marked the most serious escalation along the ceasefire line with Syria since the 1973 Middle East War, with Israel's defense minister warning that Damascus would pay a "high price" for helping militants bent on harming the Jewish state.

Although there was no claim of responsibility for Tuesday's roadside bomb attack which targeted soldiers patrolling the Israel-Syria ceasefire line, Israel has raised the alarm about increased activity there by Lebanon's Hizbullah, calling it a "new threat" for the Jewish state.

Hizbullah fighters, who fought a bloody war with Israel in 2006, are now fighting alongside the Syrian army against rebels seeking to overthrow the Damascus regime.

Following the Golan attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel would act "forcefully" to defend itself, with the air force making good on his pledge several hours later.

The pre-dawn strikes targeted a Syrian army training facility, a military headquarters and artillery batteries, the Israeli army said.

"Our policy is clear: we hurt those who hurt us," Netanyahu told ministers on Wednesday.

Tuesday's attack, which injured four paratroopers, one severely, was the third such incident in two weeks along Israel's northern frontiers.

Two previous attempts to strike soldiers along Israel's northern borders on March 5 and March 14 were blamed on Hizbullah.

"We see the Assad regime as responsible for what is happening under its authority, and if it continues to cooperate with terror elements who seek to harm Israel, we will make it pay a high price," Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said in a statement.

"We will react with determination and force against anyone operating against us, at any time and any place, as we have done tonight," he said.

Calm returned following the strikes although three Israeli tanks could be seen positioned along the ceasefire line, just southeast of the Druze town Majdal Shams, an AFP correspondent said.

In the town, which is populated by Druze residents many of whom are fiercely loyal to Damascus, there was anger over the Israeli raids.

"It was an unacceptable act," said Ali Abu Saleh, a man in his 30s with an outsized moustache, accusing Israel of trying to topple Assad.

"Israel has no right to strike inside Syria," agreed bookshop owner Sagar Abu Slah. "It's a Syrian internal war. Israel shouldn't interfere but nor should Hizbullah."

Israel, which is technically at war with Syria, seized 1,200 square kilometers (460 square miles) of the Golan Heights plateau during the 1967 Six Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognized by the international community.

Since the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, the plateau has been tense, with a growing number of stray projectiles hitting the Israeli side, prompting an occasional armed response.

But the recent string of attempts to harm soldiers has raised fears that years of calm which have prevailed along Israel's northern frontiers may soon end.

"There has been no such series of events in the north since the Second Lebanon War in 2006," said Haaretz newspaper, linking the surge in attacks to a February 24 air strike which targeted a Hizbullah position in Lebanon, which the group blamed on Israel.

If the current escalation continues, Israel was liable to be drawn into "a more forceful response," the paper said, suggesting the military may have to "set a higher price tag" for such attacks.

Yediot Aharonot also took a similar line saying Israel should consider sending a clear message in the form of "one or several hammers that will pound Damascus or Beirut powerfully and shake up somebody over there."

"A policy of 'sit-still-and-do-nothing'... is an invitation to the next incident."

Comments 37
Thumb cedre 19 March 2014, 07:51

Kizbalah, Syria and the whole resistance will choose the time and place to punish this zionist aggression.
The place : probably a civilian suburb or Halab or Ghouta
The time : just need to fill few barrels with tnt , load them on a Mi8 and it's ready...

Thumb kanaanljdid 19 March 2014, 08:43

Josephani, the Hebrew name holder, what is extremist in denouncing the ugly way Assad and Hizbullah bomb civilian areas?

Thumb popeye 19 March 2014, 08:51

What is the difference between a booby trapped car exploding in a civilian area and an explosive barrel filled with 150 kgs of high explosives dropped over civilians heads... NOTHING. The explosive barrel is a flying booby trapped vehicle that kills more civilians. In the terror's party propaganda dictionary, a booby trapped car is a despicable act of terrorism while the other is an act of heroics and military genius.

Thumb cedre 19 March 2014, 08:58

popeye, how dare u compare noble innocent shia blood and zionist takfiri blood of syrian children ? Shame on u...

Missing -karim- 19 March 2014, 07:55

Israel is just trying to help its FSA-Al Qaeda jihadist terrorist allies. No big deal people.

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 20 March 2014, 06:26

Karimm - if israel to fall, he would by now. Do not be deluded about the balance of power.

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 20 March 2014, 06:40

If israel wants him to fall

Thumb Mystic 19 March 2014, 08:27

Very nice Cedre, admit it infront of us all Mr. Takfiri. You support Israel and Hezbollah anytime. Just like you started the war in Syria, to create a greater Israel.

Thumb kanaanljdid 19 March 2014, 08:44

To create a greater vilayet l faqih you meant Mystic?

Thumb Mystic 19 March 2014, 08:28

You see these Israeli soldiers? They are your brothers ya cedre. No honor between M14 cowards.

Thumb cedre 19 March 2014, 08:44

well, i didn't welcome them with flowers and rice. Ur family did...

Thumb Mystic 19 March 2014, 08:47

In your wishes, but who are the ones sleeping in the zionists hospitals? That is your beloved FSA ya takfiri

Thumb cedre 19 March 2014, 09:02

I do understand u try to hide the episode of ur family welcoming Merkavas with flowers and rice, painful innit ?

yeah, some syrians are in zionist hospitals, while other syrians are not admitted in 'Zahra', 'Hussein', 'Zeinab' hospitals in Bekaa...
That shows degree of humanity and Islam of HizbIran and its ignorant sheep followers in Lebanon...

Thumb Mystic 19 March 2014, 09:53

Aha, and what about the people of Jabal Mohsen? Why do they have to drive all the way to Zhgarta hospital to recieve medical treatment? You salafis are hypocrits, you say you hate Israel, and on the other hand you openly support them.

Thumb Mystic 19 March 2014, 09:53

Cedre, today you admitted you are follower of Al Nusra front. Congratoulations.

Default-user-icon Batman (Guest) 19 March 2014, 09:37

'Any time, any place' .... Go for it IDF...

Thumb cedre 19 March 2014, 09:41

'Zahra', 'Hussein', 'Zeinab' hospitals in Bekaa.." Once again you show you sectarian face ya Sunni extremist cedre.

Sorry jaafarani, i didn't know that Zahra, Hussein, and Zeinab RA are only shia sacred people, i always thought that they were respected also by sunnis, like ALL sahabas. Please forgive my ignorance, moron...

Speaking about being sectarian, I didn't see react to ur boyfriend mactic insulting Yazid RA. Wallah, u're a strange 'christian' jaafarani... LOL

Thumb cedre 19 March 2014, 09:56

got any evidence parrals ? i'll accept anything but almanar,alalam, sana, mayadeen,irib,irna and other outlet of WaliFaqi Media Corp...

Thumb cedre 19 March 2014, 10:29

no paralels, but at least people will stop to think u're a liar...

Default-user-icon Oh Yeah! (Guest) 19 March 2014, 09:46

The more airstrikes against the regime and Hezbollah, the better.

Thumb Mystic 19 March 2014, 10:48

Why do you call the Resistance like the M14 calls them? The Resistance are the only reason the salafis are not roaming the streets of Beirut, killing all minorities in their way. Hizbo thugs? Sho 7ada ya zalame, that is the words of Al Qaeda.

Thumb Mystic 19 March 2014, 12:04

josephani, many people claim to be Hezbollah even when they aren't many people wants to claim that they are, so that they can give the Resistance a bad name, it happends all the time, many takfiris, say Shi3a slogans, and talk secterian in youtube videos, to make it look like Hezbollah. It is not uncommon, anyone on the street can claim they are something.

Thumb cedre 19 March 2014, 11:17

paraleles : prove it

Thumb cedre 19 March 2014, 11:56

fighters or civilians jerry ? i've seen civilians refused from lebanese hospitals...

Default-user-icon HISHAM (Guest) 19 March 2014, 13:18

Be aware the zionist are preparing smth very special for the whole area ,and waiting impatiently for hasan to invad the '' GALIL'' haha....my fellow lebanese i suggest you to take a lot of pictures of all ou bridges and electricity stations etc.....for souvenirs cuz 2006 was honey comparing to the next one, were all bunch of idiots and were NOT seeing the reality ,alla yistor ,the plans are for the next round is to burn el-akhdar oulyabess....including the syrians,hizballa,takfiris etc....its a big root canal and a dangerous one,think far,think the dirty dangerous jewish way and ull find the answer.....ya 7aram ya libnan.....ma btistahel

Thumb Mystic 19 March 2014, 15:51

If you think only the zionists, are prepared. Then you will be surprised to see, what the Resistance has in store for them.

Thumb cedre 19 March 2014, 16:35

we know, old WW2 soviet expired and rusty stuff...

Thumb cedre 19 March 2014, 17:30

yeah the rusty stuff that got lebanon destroyed...

Thumb Mystic 19 March 2014, 18:08

cedre, Israel can bomb Lebanon with their planes yes, but these planes will not have any airbases to return, if that happens..

Thumb kanaanljdid 19 March 2014, 22:14

Another divine suicide? 1500 Lebanese deads and the whole country devastated. That's your pride?

Thumb scorpyonn 20 March 2014, 04:37

To hell with your resistance and your Iranian taskmasters, Mystic- they are the reason for our problems.

Thumb cedre 19 March 2014, 16:34

ft, u're such a liar....

'islamic palestinian jihad sends 150 rockets into israel, draws zero response.'

actually 29 sites were targeted by IDF

'syrian army gaining ground against qaeda and ISIL, israel bombs syrian army posts gratuitously.'

SAA losing ground in Daraa, Quneitra governorates, its offensive in Aleppo blocked, Raqaa and Deir out of its control, etc...

Missing phillipo 19 March 2014, 17:30

It seems to me that someone has been saying this for at least 8 years (since 2006). There is also the saying in English "actions speak louder than words". The trouble is actions cost lives and a lot of money, words are free.

Missing VINCENT 19 March 2014, 23:16

While the U.S. meets with the two heads of State to broker a peace between the Palestinians and the Jews, Iran is up to no good as usual. You're not fooling anyone anymore. Peace with Israeli does not benefit Iran's agenda nor maintaining H.A's weapons and the so called "resistance". Neither Iran nor H.A. would dare to publicly disclose the main goal of its weapons which is targeted against Saudis. So, H.A. would further Iran's interests and prolong a peace agreement that would otherwise give the Palestinians home and hope for the future, instead of ridding this cancer from Lebanon.

Thumb scorpyonn 20 March 2014, 01:57

More power to the israselis for getting rid of all the filth and vermin that we live with.

Thumb scorpyonn 20 March 2014, 01:59

Israel can destroy anyone it wants-- I hope they start with Iran

Thumb scorpyonn 20 March 2014, 04:38

cedre, Mystic is an Iranian fool- always bloviating and never having anyhthing to show for it.