re: #281 NJDhockeyfan

Having been up along the Golan Heights, including this past March, I can tell you that any attempts at infiltrating the DMZ with Israel will be detected rather easily; the IDF posts along Mt Hermon allow an unparalleled view into Syria (and most of the Heights afford views that on a clear day can take you straight into Damascus). It’s why the Golan is such a strategic location.

The reports all seem to indicate that the fire isn’t directed at Israel, but misfires from the ongoing civil war. While AQ or Hizbullah might try to take advantage of that situation by purposefully attacking Israeli targets, the IDF is well prepared at this point for such an attempt. The UN, which patrols the DMZ also is aware of the situation, and they’re also likely to come under fire from Hizbullah/AQ in those potential scenarios.

Israel will do what it must to protect itself, but they’re just as curious as everyone else what Assad’s doing and whether the rebels can oust him.

Meanwhile, Assad’s claiming to have freed up another 30,000 troops to go and crush the rebels. That’s 10% of the nominal size of the military, which is a huge commitment of additional forces, but a variable missing is just how many are in the fight currently, and how many have defected or fled. The 30,000 additional troops Assad claims to now be using may be his last ditch effort to crush the rebels. Seeing as their air force/helicopter assaults haven’t worked to break the back of the rebel stronghold on significant portions of the country and have led to heavy fighting in and around Aleppo and Damascus, this could be Assad’s last option before considering other means or actions.