Chief of Staff tours Syrian border
Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz to commanders on Golan Heights: „This is a Syrian issue that could become our issue”
Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz toured the Golan Heights this morning (Sunday, November 4). He was accompanied by commanders of the Gaash Formation, which is responsible for protecting the region around the Syrian border.
„This is a Syrian issue that could become our issue,” the Chief of Staff said of the ongoing fighting in Syria, instructing forces in the field to remain alert in protecting the Golan Heights and preventing violence from spilling across the border.
IDF Spokesperson Yoav (Poly) Mordechai also toured the Golan together with the Chief of Staff. „Across the border, the sound of tank and light weapons fire, which keep the commanders of the Gaash Formation constantly prepared, should the fire change direction and be directed against us. Some of them recount cries of ‘Allah Allakbar’ [„God is great,” in Arabic] heard from the Syrian side at some of the positions in the area, and with my own eyes I see Syrian soldiers and rebels,”the Spokesperson wrote on his Facebook page.
Roughly one month ago, the Chief of Staff discussed the fighting in Syria between loyalists of President Bashar al-Assad and rebels, as well as the IDF’s handling of related threats to Israel’s security.
„Assad is slaughtering his people and losing control,” he said. „Terrorist organizations, such as the Global Jihad, are based there. Along the Syrian border in the Golan Heights, we will handle both the regular military threat and the threat of terrorism which continues to grow and acquire additional arms and ammunition.”
