Israeli Army Detains Syrian Who Infiltrated Occupied Golan Heights

 A sign warning against approaching an Israeli military zone in the occupied Golan Heights. (AFP)
A sign warning against approaching an Israeli military zone in the occupied Golan Heights. (AFP)
TT
20

Israeli Army Detains Syrian Who Infiltrated Occupied Golan Heights

 A sign warning against approaching an Israeli military zone in the occupied Golan Heights. (AFP)
A sign warning against approaching an Israeli military zone in the occupied Golan Heights. (AFP)

Israel detained a Syrian man who infiltrated the occupied part of the Syrian Golan Heights, the Israeli army announced on Thursday.

An army spokesman said the man was detained after advancing a few dozen meters towards Jabal al-Sheikh (Mount Hermon) in the Israeli-occupied part of the area.

“An army observation point spotted the suspect near the ceasefire line,” the spokesman added, noting that army forces were sent to the area immediately.

The man was arrested and handed over to the security services for investigation.

The preliminary estimates indicate that the man is just a civilian who wanted to cross into the Israeli-occupied part of the Golan Heights to find a job in one of the Syrian towns and villages there.

However, the several infiltration attempts have raised the army’s concern, fearing they are members of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah or other Iranian militias.

Last week, Israeli sources said the army fired at four individuals who had “hurled objects along the border fence,” wounding one of them.

Observation soldiers spotted four suspects near Haspin in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the army said, without providing any specific information on what they were throwing.



Lebanon Braces for Repercussions of Iran-Israel Conflict

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari and Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian meet at Dar al-Fatwa. (Markazia)
Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari and Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian meet at Dar al-Fatwa. (Markazia)
TT
20

Lebanon Braces for Repercussions of Iran-Israel Conflict

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari and Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian meet at Dar al-Fatwa. (Markazia)
Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari and Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian meet at Dar al-Fatwa. (Markazia)

Lebanon remained on high political alert amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, as officials worked to assess and contain the potential repercussions of the conflict on the country’s fragile stability.

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari and Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian emphasized the importance of Lebanon distancing itself from the conflict.

President Joseph Aoun is closely monitoring the unfolding situation and received briefings on the latest developments and the regional and international diplomatic efforts underway to defuse it.

Aoun is in continuous contact with security leaders, in line with the outcomes of a national security meeting held at the Baabda Palace on Saturday, said a statement from the Lebanese presidency.

The president also oversaw efforts to facilitate the return of Lebanese nationals stranded abroad after airlines canceled flights to Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport and neighboring countries closed their airspace due to the rising regional tensions.

Saudi Ambassador Bukhari met with Grand Mufti Derian at Dar al-Fatwa to extend Eid al-Adha greetings and congratulate him on performing the Hajj upon invitation from the Saudi royal protocol.

The meeting also served as an opportunity to discuss Lebanese and regional affairs.

According to a statement from Dar al-Fatwa’s media office, the officials stressed the need for Lebanon to disassociate itself from the Iran-Israel conflict.

They underscored the urgent need for intensified Arab and international diplomatic efforts to curb the language of war and restore rational dialogue. They warned of the dangerous political, economic, and environmental consequences the continued fighting could have on the region.

Despite ongoing Israeli attacks in parts of Lebanon and repeated violations of UN Resolution 1701, the country, they said, must pursue security, peace, and stability.