The Israeli early warning station on Mount Hermon, above the cloud line on the Golan Heights. Photograph: STR New/Reuters
The Guardian: Israelis watch intently as Syrian rebel forces approach Golan Heights border
Fate of Druze minority a source of growing concern on both sides of ceasefire line as Islamist fighters close in on Bashar al-Assad’s southern strongholds
The top of Mount Hermon bristles with the golfball antennae, surveillance masts and bunkers that make up Israel’s northernmost intelligence base. Damascus is a blur in the distance, but the villages on the edge of the Golan Heights are easily visible below, deceptively peaceful in the afternoon sun.
Perched on the windswept 6,500 ft peak, the Israeli army has a bird’s eye view of what is happening as Syria disintegrates. Hadr, a pro-regime Druze village, fell to rebel fighters on Wednesday. Nearby Jubata al-Khashab is held by loyalist forces. Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaida, is advancing.
WNU Editor: The Syrian civil war will stay away from the Israeli border .... the Israelis have more than once shown their willingness in the past to use deadly force when the conflict reaches their border. But as the Syrian civil war escalates, clashes are going to occur more frequently, and while the Israeli military will be on the watch, the big problem will be the humanitarian crisis .... and will Israeli intervene to save the Druze community.
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