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Photo: AFP
Quneitra
Photo: AFP

Report: Assad's army tempers fire near border

Opposition sources in Quneitra say IDF retaliatory fire on Syrian posts, following sporadic mortar hits on Israeli soil, prompt regime's army to curb its fire on rebel forces

Syrian opposition sources based in Quneitra reported Monday that Syrian President Bashar Assad forces had tempered their shelling of rebel strongholds near the Syria-Israel border.

 

The sources linked the relative reprieve to the IDF's retaliation over mortar fire that hit Israeli soil over the past few days.

 

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Recent weeks have seen the Syrian civil war edge closer to Israel's northern sector and on two incidents – one on Sunday and one of Monday – the IDF retaliated with tank fire at the source.

 

Prior to Sunday, the IDF had not fired into Syrian territory since 1973. Monday's fire reportedly hit two Soviet guns.

 

According to reports in the Syrian opposition's media, while Assad's forces' fire has not stopped, it has been "far less intensive" since the morning hours.

 

Israel's fire at Syrian posts was condemned Sunday by the Free Syria Army, which warned Israel against interfering in the civil war that has been ravaging the country.

 

A report by Turkey's Anadolu news Agency quoted a statement issued by the FSA saying that Israel's rocket fire at Syria was aimed to help the Assad regime in his war against opposition forces.

 

"Any artificial tension created by Israel in the occupied Golan Heights is an attempt to assist Assad's regime by distracting the Syrian people from their revolution," the statement said.

 

'Hezbollah will protect Lebanon'

Also on Monday, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah addressed a ceremony marking Lebanese "Shahid Day" and said that the Shiite movement "Will continue our plans… the resistance will forge on.

 

"We have come to the point where the enemy recognizes the reality – the resistance in Lebanon has created deterrence. Israel knows it – all of their politicians, defense officials and experts, and the Israeli public agree on it.

 

"No one is saying Israel doesn't have deterrence, but the new thing is that we have created an equation of deterrence."

 

The Hezbollah drone that was launched at Israel was part of the movement's "new deterrence policy."

 

"Everyone knows the importance of information in any military campaign. It is an elementary issue, to have the correct information. Today, the resistance is making giant steps forward and the enemy knows what it means for the resistance to have such information."

 

Nasrallah also addressed the escalation in the south: "Gaza is bombed daily. Dozens are hurt and killed. Where is the Arab League? Where is the Muslim world?" he demanded.

 

 

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פרסום ראשון: 11.12.12, 19:29
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