The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) sought to alleviate concerns of Israeli citizens in the Golan Heights Monday, after two mortar shells fired from neighbouring Syria exploded close to the Ramat Magshimim settlement, as GOC Northern Command Maj. Gen. Yair Golan insisted “there are no winds of war” in Northern Israel.
The IDF refrained from responded to the incident, which is reportedly being treated by the Israeli administration as an accidental spillover of domestic tensions from Damascus, after a further mortar shell landed near the border fence in the southern Golan Heights Tuesday morning.
After the airspace of northern Israel was closed to civilian flights Sunday, apparently as a result of Israel’s reported consecutive airstrikes on Syria overnight Saturday and Sunday, the route was reopened Monday as a mark of confidence in the security of the region.
The Israeli authorities did not comment on the latest mortar fire from Syria, in line with its continued silence on the Damascus attacks, with Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu maintaining a determined business-as-usual stance on his arrival in Shanghai Monday, making no mention of the incident that has earned staunch criticism from across the Arab world, in spite of hosts China joining Israel’s detractors.
“We oppose the use of military force and believe any country’s sovereignty should be respected,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a press conference Monday.
“China also calls on all relevant parties to begin from the basis of protecting regional peace and stability, maintain restraint and avoid taking any actions that would escalate tensions and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability,” Hua said.
China has been a high-profile opponent of the international community’s efforts to hold the Syrian regime to account, standing with fellow permanent UN Security Council member Russia to veto a series of proposed resolutions aimed at resolving the two year-long domestic conflict. The Syrian issue is likely to be on the agenda for Netanyahu’s forthcoming discussions with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang Wednesday and President Xi Jinping Thursday in Beijing, before the Israeli Premier concludes hid visit Friday.
Meanwhile, the US State Department expressed solidarity with the reported Israeli incursion Monday, as a spokesman deflected questioning over American coordination with the Jewish State amid ongoing concerns over the likelihood of Bashar al Assad’s regime’s reportedly chemical weapons cache falling into the hands of militant Hezbollah in neighbouring Syria. “We very much stand with our Israeli ally and are constantly and always reviewing when we work with our Israeli partners the best way to ensure their security,” department spokesman Patrick Ventrell told reporters.
'I am not aware that there was any pre-coordination, although as a general policy rule, we view the Israelis as having a justifiable need to defend themselves against transfers of advanced weaponry to terrorist groups like Hezbollah, and we do coordinate with them on strategy. But I am not aware that we were given some kind of pre-notification of their actions,” he added.
Meanwhile, the US State Department expressed solidarity with the reported Israeli incursion Monday, as a spokesman deflected questioning over American coordination with the Jewish State amid ongoing concerns over the likelihood of Bashar al Assad’s regime’s reportedly chemical weapons cache falling into the hands of militant Hezbollah in neighbouring Syria. “We very much stand with our Israeli ally and are constantly and always reviewing when we work with our Israeli partners the best way to ensure their security,” department spokesman Patrick Ventrell told reporters.
'I am not aware that there was any pre-coordination, although as a general policy rule, we view the Israelis as having a justifiable need to defend themselves against transfers of advanced weaponry to terrorist groups like Hezbollah, and we do coordinate with them on strategy. But I am not aware that we were given some kind of pre-notification of their actions,” he added.