IDF fires warning shots into Syria after shell hits Golan

jpost.com ^ | 11/11/2012

[RoosterRedux]

The IDF fired warning shots into Syrian territory on Sunday after a mortar shell fired from Syria hit an IDF outpost in the Golan Heights. The incident follows a similar spillover from Syria on Thursday, when a shell from Syria exploded in Moshav Alonei Habashan.

"Further attacks [from Syria] will illicit a vigorous response," the IDF Spokesman's Office stated. The military also sent a letter to the United Nations warning Syrian forces to be careful in avoiding fire into the Golan.

Just hours earlier, Defense Minister Ehud Barak threatened that Israel would respond should stray Syrian ordnance continue to strike the Golan Heights, highlighting international concerns that the civil war in Syria could ignite a wider regional conflict.

"The message has certainly been relayed. To tell you confidently that no shell will fall? I cannot. If a shell falls, we will respond," Barak said, without elaborating, in an interview with Army Radio.

At the Sunday cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that Israel was closely following events along the Syrian border, and was prepared for all possibilities on that front.

[Dartman]

Israel is going to have to do what they have to do. God bless and keep them.

[PghBaldy]

First time since 1973 war that Israel fired at Syria. Wonder if Obama will be told about this, eventually?

[ari-freedom]

This is not prophecy. It’s what anyone should expect after Obama’s re-election.

[riverrunner]

The news was reporting the accidental fireing, accidently hit a military out post. Right what would the odds be of it all being a accident.

[jjotto]

The jpost English edition is almost certainly done by native speakers of English. Public skewl grads no doubt, and probably with prestigious college edukashuns.

[donozark]

Article mentions the Syrian tanks "parked" in the DMZ at the Golan. There was also an incident involving direct weapons fire (probably tracer rounds) that ignited a wooded area. I wonder if perhaps there is a reason for this? Maybe a desire to clear the woods? Or perhaps "kicking the dog?" Testing IDF response?

I would put nothing past the Iranians. Oops...I mean the Syrians.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks RoosterRedux.

[justa-hairyape]

But that could put Israel vs. Russia. Holy cow.

Israel named a street after Putin in Jerusalem. They are covering their bases. Think they might have named a garbage dump after Obama.