BICOM

At least three errant mortar shells fired during battles between the Syrian army and opposition forces, landed in Israeli territory on Saturday.

The shells landed near the vicinity of Moshav Ramat Magshimim and caused no injuries or damage. It is not the first time that stray fire has crept across the Israeli border, with a tank shell having landed on the Golan Heights just last week. However, according to Israel Radio Saturday’s incident was the furthest that Syrian fire had traversed the international frontier since hostilities began in Syria two years ago. The IDF Northern Command reported the incident to United Nations forces stationed on the Golan Heights. Meanwhile, Golan Regional Council Director Eli Malka commented, “This is misfire and that happens in war. There’s no reason to disrupt our routines.” 

Also over the weekend, Lebanese news website Ya Libnan reported that Islamist opposition faction Jabhat al-Nusra had captured a Syrian military depot containing long-range Scud missiles. Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Ya’alon told Army Radio yesterday that he is familiar with the reports and that although Israel is tracking developments, there appears to be no immediate danger.

Meanwhile, in an interview with the Sunday Times, Syrian President Assad claimed that his forces will take action in response to an air strike which was thought to have been carried out by Israel’s air force last month. In the same interview, Assad accused the British government of “bullying and hegemony” in Syria. Speaking to the BBC yesterday, Foreign Secretary William Hague called Assad’s interview “delusional” and said that he would this week announce a new aid package to the Syrian opposition. Hague also refused to rule out helping arm the Syrian opposition in the future.