“Let Battle Commence.” – Tim Veater
“Let Battle Commence.”
“Israeli air strikes hit Syrian military targets
“Israeli military confirms it has carried out attacks on Syrian positions in
retaliation for explosion that killed teenager.
retaliation for explosion that killed teenager.
Orlando Crowcroft and agencies
The Guardian, Monday 23 June 2014
The Guardian, Monday 23 June 2014
“The Israeli military has carried out air strikes on targets inside Syria,
including a military headquarters, in response to a cross-border attack that
left an Israeli teenager dead.
including a military headquarters, in response to a cross-border attack that
left an Israeli teenager dead.
In all, Israel said it struck nine military targets inside Syria, and “direct
hits were confirmed.”
hits were confirmed.”
The targets were located near the site of Sunday’s violence in the Golan Heights
and included a regional military command centre and unspecified “launching
positions.” There was no immediate response from Syria.
and included a regional military command centre and unspecified “launching
positions.” There was no immediate response from Syria.
In Sunday’s attack, an Israeli civilian vehicle was struck by forces in Syria as
it drove in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.
it drove in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.
A teenage boy was killed and two other people were wounded in the first deadly
incident along the volatile Israeli-Syrian front since Syria’s civil war erupted
more than three years ago.
incident along the volatile Israeli-Syrian front since Syria’s civil war erupted
more than three years ago.
The Israeli vehicle was delivering water as it was doing contract work for
Israel’s defence ministry when it was struck.
Israel’s defence ministry when it was struck.
“Yesterday’s attack was an unprovoked act of aggression against Israel, and a
direct continuation to recent attacks that occurred in the area,” said Lt Col
Peter Lerner, a military spokesman.
direct continuation to recent attacks that occurred in the area,” said Lt Col
Peter Lerner, a military spokesman.
He said the military “will not tolerate any attempt to breach Israel’s
sovereignty and will act in order to safeguard the civilians of the state of
Israel”.
sovereignty and will act in order to safeguard the civilians of the state of
Israel”.
The sudden burst of violence has added to the tense situation in Israel, where
forces have spent the past week and a half in a broad ground operation in the
West Bank in search of three teenage boys believed to have been abducted by
Hamas militants.
forces have spent the past week and a half in a broad ground operation in the
West Bank in search of three teenage boys believed to have been abducted by
Hamas militants.
Israel has carefully monitored the fighting in Syria, but has generally kept its
distance and avoided taking sides.
distance and avoided taking sides.
On several occasions, mortar shells and other types of fire have landed on the
Israeli side of the de facto border, drawing limited Israeli reprisals.
Israeli side of the de facto border, drawing limited Israeli reprisals.
Israel is also believed to have carried out several airstrikes on arms shipments
it believed to be headed from Syria to Hezbollah militants in neighbouring
Lebanon.
it believed to be headed from Syria to Hezbollah militants in neighbouring
Lebanon.
It was not immediately clear whether Syrian troops or one of the many rebel
groups battling the government carried out Sunday’s deadly attack in the Golan.
Lerner said it was clear that the attack was intentional.
groups battling the government carried out Sunday’s deadly attack in the Golan.
Lerner said it was clear that the attack was intentional.
Israel has repeatedly said it holds the Syrian government responsible for any
attacks emanating from its territory, regardless of who actually carries them
out.
attacks emanating from its territory, regardless of who actually carries them
out.
Israel captured the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau overlooking northern
Israel, from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war. Israel’s annexation of the area
has never been recognised internationally.
Israel, from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war. Israel’s annexation of the area
has never been recognised internationally.
The incident occurred in the area of Tel Hazeka, near the Quneitra crossing. The
British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian troops had shelled
nearby targets on the Syrian border earlier in the day.
British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian troops had shelled
nearby targets on the Syrian border earlier in the day.
Israeli police identified the boy as Mohammed Karaka, 14, of the Arab village of
Arraba in northern Israel. Local media said he had accompanied his father, the
truck driver, to work.
Arraba in northern Israel. Local media said he had accompanied his father, the
truck driver, to work.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he spoke to the boy’s father and sent his
condolences. “Our enemies don’t differentiate between Jews and non-Jews, adults
and children,” he told an international gathering of Jewish journalists.
condolences. “Our enemies don’t differentiate between Jews and non-Jews, adults
and children,” he told an international gathering of Jewish journalists.
Netanyahu said in conflicts like Syria, where al-Qaida-inspired extremists are
battling Iranian-backed Syrian troops, there is no good choice and it is best
for Israel to sit back and let its enemies weaken each other. “This is a fault
line between civilisation and savagery,” he said.”
battling Iranian-backed Syrian troops, there is no good choice and it is best
for Israel to sit back and let its enemies weaken each other. “This is a fault
line between civilisation and savagery,” he said.”
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