Israel, Syria Boost Military Presence Along Border

GOLAN HEIGHTS — Israel visibly has beefed up its military presence here while neighboring Syria reportedly has placed its army on high alert and — for the first time in 30 years — has opened a strategic border road to civilian traffic in a move that some Israeli security officials worry could help facilitate guerilla attacks against Golani Jewish communities.

The escalating military moves on both sides come as a top official from Syrian president's Baath Party warned in an interview that if Israel does not vacate the Golan Heights by August or September, Syrian guerrillas will launch "resistance operations" against Jewish communities living there.

The Golan Heights is strategic mountainous territory looking down on Israeli population centers captured by Israel after Syria twice used the territory to attack the Jewish state.

Local residents and soldiers stationed here say multiple Israeli army positions were established in the Golan Heights within the past few weeks. More tanks have been patrolling the area, with several tanks setting up shop in strategic positions looking down on Syria. Makeshift military outposts have been erected and Golan checkpoints fortified.

Several old Israel Defense Force military installations in the Golan were reopened in the last two months. According to local soldiers, the installations have been largely unused since the 1980s.

In several Golan positions near the Syrian border, IDF tractors cleared the way in recent weeks so that tanks can amass in the area if they are needed, soldiers stationed here said.

On the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, multiple moves have been made that Israeli security officials say are "concerning."

The security officials confirmed the stepped-up military presence of Syrian troops deployed near the Syrian side of the Golan Heights with strengthened forces after carrying out increased training in the past few months. The security officials said Syria recently increased production of rockets and acquired missiles capable of hitting central Israeli population centers.

Last month, Syria removed a series of military checkpoints blocking off a main Damascus-Golan road to the border town of Quneitra, opening the road to civilian traffic for the first time since the 1967 Six-Day War.

At a ceremony at which the road was reopened for civilians, Quneitra's governor, Nawaf al-Faris, a member of the Baath Party of the Syrian president, Bashar Al-Assad, gave a speech saying "resistance" works to restore land.

"The resistance is the guarantee to restore land, rights" and the way to face "challenges and pressures to which the Arab nation is exposed." Mr. Faris said, according to Syria's SANA news agency. Israeli security officials say they are concerned that the road could be used by militants seeking to attack the border area. One tank yesterday was positioned on a hilltop directly facing the road.

Speaking to The New York Sun on condition of anonymity, a top Baath official said a new purported guerrilla group called the Committees for the Liberation of the Golan Heights has been training and is ready to attack Jewish communities in the Golan in August or September. He said the group seeks to model itself after the Lebanese Hezbollah militia.

The official said the Quneitra road is one of "many" routes in which the Committees could infiltrate the area.