Syrian government troops backed by Hezbollah fighters on March 16 took the town of Yabroud near the Lebanese border, which was held by rebels inlcuding the Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front. Hours later, in apparent retaliation, the Shi'ite town of Nabi Othman in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley was struck by a suicide bombing that left four dead. (LAT, Reuters, March 17) Meanwhile, in comments sure to warm the heart of Bashar Assad, opposition leader Kamal al-Labwani of the Syrian National Council told Iran's Arabic-language al Alam new service that the Syrian opposition is willing to give up claims to the Golan Heights in return for Israeli military aid. "Why shouldn’t we be able to sell the Golan Heights because it is better than losing Syria and Golan at once," he said. (Haaretz, March 16)
Israel bombs Syria after Golan attack
Israel launched air raids against Syrian army positions March 19, hours after a bomb on the occupied Golan Heights wounded four Israeli soldiers. The Syrian army said one soldier was killed and seven wounded in strikes on its bases in the Quneitra region, which it denounced as "acts of aggression" that endangered regional stability. The bombing marked the most serious escalation along the ceasefire line with Syria since the 1973 Middle East War, with Israel's defense minister warning that Damascus would pay a "high price" for helping militants bent on harming Israel. (AFP)
Israel bombs Syria —again
The Israeli military says it has carried out air-strikes on a number of military targets inside Syria, including the military headquarters, in response to a cross-border attack that left an Israeli teenager dead. A military spokesman said Israeli tanks opened fire in response at Syrian government positions, but that it remained unclear whether the Syrian military or rebels had carried out the attack. There was no mention of casualties from the Israeli air-strikes. (AP, June 22)
Israel bombs Syria —again
Israeli warplanes bombed two areas near Damascus, striking near the city's international airport as well as outside a town close to the Lebanese border, the Syrian military said Dec. 7. (AP) Israel has launched intermitten air-strikes on Syria for over a year now.
Israel bombs Syria —again
An Israeli air strike has killed six members of Hezbollah in the Syrian sector of the Golan Heights, the Lebanese militant movement said Jan. 18. Among those reported dead were the son of a late military leader, a current commander, and at least one Iranian. Hezbollah's al-Manar TV said they were killed in Quneitra province "during a field reconnaissance mission." Israel said it would not comment, though unnamed sources confirmed an Israeli helicopter strike. (BBC News)