Syria today claimed to have destroyed an Israeli vehicle that crossed the ceasefire line in the Golan Heights.
It said troops destroyed the vehicle “with those in it” and warned that any attempt to infiltrate its sovereignty would face “immediate and firm retaliation”.
The Israeli army said one of its vehicles was damaged, but reported no injuries and said it “returned precise fire”. It also reported no injuries from two earlier incidents near Tel Hazeka, also in the Golan Heights, and said it did not return fire in either case.
Cross-border fire from Syria’s two-year conflict has increased in recent months. As Israel expressed “concern”, fears grew that the increasing role of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, loyal to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, could cause the war to spill over Syria’s borders.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country is prepared to launch further raids against Syria if it believes the war threatens its borders. Israel and Hezbollah fought a six-week war in 2006.
Hezbollah guerrillas were reported this week by activists to have supported Syrian forces in a major offensive in the rebel-held town of Qusair, six miles from the Lebanese border, in which at least 32 people were killed.
Mr Netanyahu said Israel is “preparing for every scenario. We will act to ensure the security interest of Israel’s citizens in the future”. Israel has neither denied nor confirmed reports it attacked sites near Damascus this month where it believed Iranian-supplied missiles awaited delivery to Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, Syrian TV showed film of what it said was an Israeli military vehicle used by anti-Assad fighters. Israel said the Jeep was decommissioned a decade ago, and dismissed the footage as “poor propaganda”.
Foreign Secretary William Hague said the UK is stepping up efforts to find a political solution in Syria. Opposition groups meeting in Spain today said they oppose all negotiation with Assad’s government unless it is aimed at him giving up power.
