Syrian Forces Battling Near Israeli Border

Forces loyal to the regime of Syrian president Bashar Assad and allied Shi’ite militias from Lebanon, Iran and Iraq launched a broad offensive Thursday against rebel factions in Quneitra province and the region bordering Israel. Rebel factions reported that the attacks on their positions mostly consisted of probes by ground troops supported by artillery, speculating that the regime is avoiding using its air force in the area for fear of provoking an Israeli response. However, a large-scale air campaign further north, mainly carried out by Russian aircraft, has reportedly inflicted heavy losses on the rebels. Meanwhile, reports indicate that IDF artillery units are firing into Lebanon Monday in an effort to deter the Shi’ite terror militia Hezbollah from retaliating for the recent assassination of one of their leaders, believed to have been carried out by Israel.