BICOM

The IDF reportedly placed troops on high alert along the Syrian border as fighting continued between Syrian government forces and rebels, while 43 United Nations peacekeepers were forcibly apprehended yesterday in the Syrian part of the Golan Heights.

Border tensions have increased this week after opposition forces captured the Quneitra border crossing with Israel, although it was reported that the Syrian Air Force had launched strikes in an attempt to recapture the position. The rebel forces reportedly included units from the Western-backed Free Syrian Army and the Al-Nusra Front, giving the Al-Qaeda affiliated organisation a presence on Israel’s border.

During this week’s fighting, two Israelis were injured. An army officer was struck by either a bullet or shrapnel to his chest and was airlifted to hospital in Haifa. Seven mortars exploded in Israeli territory, one lightly injuring a civilian, who subsequently admitted himself to hospital.

This morning, the Times of Israel reports that the IDF has raised the level of alert for forces along the border. This comes in light of a further development yesterday, when 43 Fijian United Nations peacekeepers were forcibly seized by an unnamed armed group on the Syrian side of the border. Another 81 Filipino peacekeepers were also apparently trapped in the area as heavy clashes took place in the vicinity. Philippines military spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said that the Filipino troops “did not surrender their firearms as they may in turn be held hostage themselves. This resulted in a stand-off which is still the prevailing situation at this time.”

Over the past few months, mortar and gunfire from fighting in Syria has landed on Israeli territory with some regularity. Some has been errant fire, but cross-border attacks targeting Israeli troops, army positions and on occasions civilians have taken place. Writing in Israel Hayom this morning, Yoav Limor says that from Israel’s perspective, President Assad’s forces are clearly the lesser of two evils in comparison to “al-Qaida on the border (or Hezbollah and ISIS).”