Al-Qaida Fighters Are Now Stationed Along Israel's Border In The Golan Heights

Israeli Golan Residents Tell Government To 'Wake Up' -- Al-Monitor

Sgt. Shahar Shalev, the 72nd casualty of Operation Protective Edge, was laid to rest Sept. 2 at a funeral in the Hispin community on the Golan Heights. Shalev hailed from the neighboring community of Alonei HaBashan, less than a kilometer from the Syrian border.

Echoes of nearby explosions could be heard in the area, resonating from the battles between the Syrian army and the rebels opposing the government. The Israel Defense Forces occasionally blocked roads and redirected traffic onto alternative routes, worried that the gun or mortar fire might spillover. Residents from the northern Golan Heights who made their way to the funeral were constantly updated about the dynamic, constantly changing map of blocked roads. They have been watching as their quiet, pastoral lives undergo an abrupt change.

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More News On Reports That Al-Qaida Fighters Are Now Stationed Along Israel's Border In The Golan Heights

Golan Heights Border Violence Has Israelis On Edge -- Times of Israel/AP
Israelis in Golan Heights uneasy about nearby Al Qaeda-linked fighters in Syria -- CSM/AP
IDF Returns Fire at Syrian Army Position as Mortar Hits Golan -- Arutz Sheva
Golan Heights: Israel fires into Syria after 'errant fire' -- CBC/Reuters
UN Wants Other Countries to Help Free Abducted Golan Peacekeepers -- AP
UN Security Council Demands Release of 45 Detained Peacekeepers in Golan Heights -- RIA Novosti
U.N. denies Golan peacekeepers ordered to hand arms to Syria rebels -- Reuters

With Syrian Rebels Intensifying Their Attacks, UN Peacekeepers Flee Into Israel From Their Posts In The Golan Heights

Philippine Syria Troops 'Attacked' -- BBC

Philippine peacekeepers trapped by rebels in the Syrian Golan Heights are "under attack", Philippine Defence Minister Voltaire Gazmin says.

He said the assault had started early on Saturday, but gave no details on any casualties.

In recent days the Syrian rebels have taken 44 Fijian peacekeepers hostage in the area and surrounded 75 Filipinos manning two separate UN posts.

The rebels have also seized a crossing point into the Israeli-occupied Golan.

They are believed to include members of the al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria.

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Update: Report: UN peacekeepers flee Syria, enter Israel -- AP

My Comment: This is a serious defeat for the Syrian military, and it also shows how unprepared the UN is when it must confront forces that are determined to kick them out.

Al Qaeda Linked Syrian Rebels Have Detained 43 U.N. Peacekeepers On The Golan Heights

BBC

UN Peacekeepers Detained in Syria -- Voice of America

The United Nations said Thursday 43 of its peacekeepers had been captured by an armed group on the border with Syria and Israel, and another 81 are unable to leave their positions near the border crossing.

Militants with the Islamist al-Nusra front on Wednesday stormed the border post. It was unclear who was holding the U.N. personnel.

In a statement, the U.N. said it was making every effort to secure the release of its peacekeepers and restore freedom of movement for the others.

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More News On Reports That Syrian Rebels Have Detained 43 U.N. Peacekeepers And Are Keeping Another 81 Peacekeepers Trapped

U.N. says 43 Golan Heights peacekeepers seized by militants -- Reuters
United Nations Peacekeepers Captured in Golan Heights -- NYT
Syria conflict: UN peacekeepers held in Golan Heights -- BBC
UN: Armed group detains 43 peacekeepers in Syria -- Bloomberg Businessweek/AP
43 UN peacekeepers seized in Syrian Golan Heights -- AFP
43 U.N. peacekeepers abducted in Golan Heights -- Washington Post
U.N. Says 43 Peacekeepers Detained by Armed Group in Golan Heights -- Time
Unknown Gunmen Capture Over 40 UN Peacekeepers in Golan Heights – Media -- RIA Novosti

Al Qaeda Linked Islamic Fighters Are Now On The Border With Israel

Syrian Islamists Seize Golan Heights Border Crossing -- CNN

(CNN) -- Islamist militants battling the Syrian government seized control of the Quneitra border crossing between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Wednesday, according to an Israeli military spokesman and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Among the fighters were members of al-Nusra Front, a Syrian rebel group with ties to al Qaeda, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

And while the Islamist forces are no match for Israeli troops in the heavily militarized zone, the takeover represents a new dynamic in a war long feared not only for its deadly effects inside Syria but for threatening to widen into a destabilizing regional conflict, CNN's Ben Wedeman reported Wednesday.

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More News On Al Qaeda Linked Syrian Rebels Seizing The Key Crossing Point On The Golan Heights

Islamist fighters seize Syria crossing near Israel: Syrian Observatory -- Reuters
Syria Rebels Seize Golan Heights Border Crossing -- AP
Syrian Rebels Seize Crossing Point With Golan Heights -- New York Times
Syrian rebels capture sole border crossing between Israel and Syria in Golan Heights -- Washington Post
Islamists Seize Syria Crossing to Golan Heights Near Israel: Monitor -- NBC
Syrian rebels announce seizure of Golan Heights border crossing -- Deutsche Welle
Syria Rebels Seize Golan Heights Crossing -- SKY News
Al-Nusra Front captures Syrian Golan Heights crossing -- Middle East Eye
Rebels’ seizure of border crossing could herald new gains -- Times of Israel
Islamic militants advance within 200 yards of Israeli territory -- Digital Journal