Israel closes Golan area as Syria rebels seize crossing

Israel closes off the area around Quneitra on the Golan Heights after an officer was wounded by stray fire as Syrian rebels seized control of the crossing.

Rebel fighters, including some from al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, captured the Syrian side of the sole crossing over the armistice line earlier Wednesday in deadly fighting with government troops.

“From what we know, opposition forces overran the Syrian regime forces on the Syrian side of the Quneitra crossing, some of those including the Al-Nusra Front, which ultimately leave the crossing in the opposition forces’ hands,” IDF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner tells AFP.

He says there had been “extensive fighting” on the Syrian side of the ceasefire line since early Wednesday which had resulted in several instances of “errant fire.”

— AFP