No Syrian troop movements on border, says IDF

IDF sources deny media report that Syria deploying rockets, mobilizing troops along border with Israel

Hanan Greenberg
Published: 03.10.07, 22:06 / Israel News

IDF sources denied Saturday an Associated French Press report that Syrians had moved thousands of troops towards their border with Israel.

According to the sources, no such troop movement was identified. The IDF said that the AFP information was inaccurate and that Israeli intelligence had uncovered no Syrian intentions to launch an attack against Israel.

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Friday, media reports quoted Israeli military and government officials as saying that Syria thousands of medium and long-range rockets along the Israeli border.

The deployment, coupled with other recent reports of Syrian troop mobilization was seen in Israel as an indication that Damascus may be preparing for future "low intensity warfare," AFP reported the sources as saying.

The report further stated that the Syrian army had accelerated its deployment of the rockets in the wake of the Lebanon war.

One of AFP's military sources allegedly said: "We noticed that in recent months Syria has deployed hundreds, possibly thousands of medium and long-range rockets along the border.

"Many of the rockets are hidden in underground chambers and in camouflaged silos, which make them very difficult to locate."

A senior government official was reported as saying, "Israel has absolute superiority in several fields of warfare," referring to Israel's advanced air force and 'smart' weapons.

As mentioned, these media reports were challenged Saturday by IDF officials who said that no activity has been identified on the border.

AFP contributed to the report

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