Syria conflict: Rebels take Golan Heights crossing

[oberliner]

Syrian rebels have taken over a UN-run border crossing in the Golan Heights after heavy clashes with regime forces.

Fighting is continuing near Quneitra, close to Israeli-held territory.

The fighting comes a day after Syrian troops - backed by Lebanon's Hezbollah militants - retook the key town of Qusair after a three-week siege.

The battle for Qusair has highlighted Hezbollah's growing role on the Syrian conflict, which has heightened sectarian tensions in the wider region.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22795655

[dipsydoodle]

1. You might want to change that headline

BBC has corrected it to read "Syria conflict: Army 'retakes Golan Heights crossing'"

One event was obviously overtaken by another :

Syrian rebels seized a UN-manned crossing between Syria and the Golan Heights on Thursday, opposition sources said, but Israeli security sources reported Syrian troops later retook it after heavy fighting.

The rarely used Quneitra crossing, in a UN-patrolled demilitarized zone on the Golan Heights, is the only transit point between Syrian and Israeli disengagement lines set in 1974. Battles for its control seemed likely to heighten Israeli security concerns stoked by Syria's civil war.

http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Syrian-army-retakes-Golan-crossing-point-from-rebels-315673

[azurnoir]

3. Thanks for the update

[oberliner]

9. Except the information is incorrect

So thumbs down.

[azurnoir]

11. Not the information is not wrong the rebel take over was quite short lived

Rebels briefly overran a border position near the destroyed city of Quneitra early Thursday before Syrian government troops retook it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10104630/Fighting-seen-in-Syrian-town-of-Quneitra-from-Israeli-side-of-the-border.html

note the word briefly

[oberliner]

10. Might not

Israel reacts angrily to Austria's withdrawal from Golan Heights

Syrian rebels groups briefly seized control of the Quneitra border crossing after hours of sustained and intense fighting with tanks and artillery, during which several shells exploded inside Camp Ziouni, a UN compound inside the demilitarised zone, and three mortars reportedly exploded inside Israeli-occupied territory.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/06/israel-angry-austria-golan-heights

[bemildred]

2. This is still going down.

The UN peacekeepers are pulling out, Israel is moving tanks up.

[aranthus]

4. Where did you hear that Israel is moving up tanks?

That isn't in either the JPost or BBC reports. In fact, the BBC report was that the Syrians had moved in tanks, but that Israel was not going to respond.

[bemildred]

5. Here:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/06/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html

[aranthus]

6. Thanks. n/t

[bemildred]

7. You are welcome, this is the site I use to get real time news:

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/

[azurnoir]

8. Syrians attempt to find refuge in Israel

Dozens of Syrians arrived at the Quneitra border crossing between Israel and Syria at around noon Thursday and requested entry into Israel.


The group was received by the IDF, which examined them at the crossing. However, after the IDF decided the Syrian side of the Quneitra crossing was no longer dangerous, it decided to send the group back to their war-torn country.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4389373,00.html

I wonder how 'safe' is being determined here