Israel fires warning shot into Syria
For the first time since the 1973 war, Israel has fired on Syrian territory.
This can't be good:
The IDF fired a warning shot at the Syrian military on Sunday, after a Syrian shell landed in the Golan Heights for the second time in recent days.
Israel has not fired at Syria since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
"In the midst of Syrian infighting, a mortar shell fired by the Syrian army struck near an outpost at Tel Hazeka," IDF spokesman Brig.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai said. The shell failed to cause injuries or damages.
"In light of the policy instituted by IDF Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, a warning round was fired back into Syria. We don't believe it caused injuries or damages," Mordechai added.
At the same time, Israel sent a warning message to the UN, saying that any further firing into Israel will result "in a real response," sources added.
Israel limited its return fire, since its policy is to only fire intensively in response to coming under major Syrian fire. "We didn't continue firing because this was one mortar we were responding to," the source said.
"We will not accept any firing into our territory," he added. "This was a signal to the Syrians, that we will not be so forgiving of everything that lands in a territory." The source stressed that as of now, Israel and Syria were not a in a conflict situation.
The IDF is currently on standby for a security deterioration on both the northern front and the border with Gaza.
Syria claims the mortar round they fired was "a mistake" and Israel has apparently accepted that explanation. But if Assad finds himself losing badly, he may try to goad Israel into a war that he might think would reunite the country. That's delusional thinking. The rebels would seize upon the opportunity that withdrawing Syrian troops would give them, and occupy the rest of the country.
A dictator with his back to the wall is extremely dangerous - especially one with chemical weapons.