Ya'alon on Syria: Israel is clear on its red lines

Defense Minister speaks after 3 shells, likely errant firing from fighting in Syria, fall in Golan Heights in last day.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon 370 (photo credit: Ariel Hermoni, Defense Ministry spokesman)
Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon 370
(photo credit: Ariel Hermoni, Defense Ministry spokesman)
Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said Israel is not “interfering in the Syrian civil war, but we’ve warned what our interests are, and we have called it ‘red lines,’ whether it’s transferring quality weapons to a terrorist organization or violating our sovereignty along the border.”
Ya’alon did not comment directly on alleged air strikes in Syria last Friday and Sunday that targeted advanced Iranian Fateh 110 missiles destined for Damascus.
In any instance where an Israeli red line is crossed, he warned, “We will act to protect the security of Israel.”
Ya’alon spoke during a tour of the IDF Southern Command on Monday.
He warned that any Syrian cross-border fire will be answered by an immediate Israeli counterattack. Israeli forces in the North are under orders to return fire without seeking approval from the defense minister, chief of staff, or OC Northern Command, Ya’alon said.
“Should they identify the source of the fire, they will destroy it,” he added.
Earlier, a Syrian shell exploded in the southern Golan Heights after being fired during a battle between rebels and the Syrian army. It was the third errant shell to fall in Israeli territory within 24 hours.
Also on Monday, Lebanese sources reported seeing what they said were Israeli drones flying over southern Lebanon.