Israeli Forces Kill Syrian Man, Injure Another in Eastern Golan

Arab World

January 30th, 9:09am

Tel Aviv - Asharq Al-Awsat

An Israeli tank is seen in the Golan Heights. (AFP)

The Israeli army shot dead a Syrian man and injured another for allegedly approaching the border fence in the occupied Golan Heights, according to the military on Sunday. The two men were believed to be hunters. In a statement, the Israeli army said on Sunday that surveillance cameras identified two armed men who crossed the border line from Syrian to Israeli territory and approached the fence in the southern Golan Heights. It added that a military unit rushed to the scene and ordered the men to turn back. The statement noted that when they did not comply, the army opened fired, killing one and injuring the other, who apparently fled back to Syria. The army said the men were “armed,” adding that no Israeli soldiers were injured in the incident. According to farmer Yehuda Weinberg, a settler from Ramat Magshimim, which is close to the border, Sunday’s incident was not a security threat. He said the two Syrians were hunters who approached too close to the border. The Israeli army has erected two parallel rows of border fence equipped with electronic sensors along the ceasefire line in the heart of the Golan Heights. Military officers in Tel Aviv said they recently observed a significant increase in attempts by Syrian citizens to approach the border. In several instances, Israeli forces had entered Syrian territory and arrested people suspected of having approached the fence. However, they were released soon after the forces verified that they did not intend to harm Israel.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4127346/israeli-forces-kill-syrian-man-injure-another-eastern-golan