Visiting border with Syria, IDF chief says Israel is ‘closely following’ situation

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, during a visit to the Syrian border earlier today, says the military is monitoring the rebel forces to make sure “they don’t turn in our direction.”

“We are very closely following what is happening. The main emphasis is to see the Iranian exit [from Syria]… and the second thing is to see the local elements taking over the area, what they are doing, how they behave, how they are deterred, and [making sure they] don’t get confused and turn in our direction,” he says.

“If there is such confusion, there is an offensive response and behind it a very, very strong defensive response,” Halevi adds.

The IDF chief held an assessment today with top officers at the 210th “Bashan” Regional Division, which is tasked with the Golan Heights area, during which he approved battle plans, the military says.

In the meeting, Halevi “emphasized the high preparedness in attack and defense, the concentration of forces at the border, and the continued monitoring of developments,” according to the IDF.

Halevi also “emphasized that we do not interfere in events in Syria,” but rather only “work to thwart and prevent threats in the region, and prepare plans for the various possibilities.”

Over the weekend, the IDF bolstered its forces on the border with Syria, amid the developments in the civil war. The additional troops include ground and air forces, along with intelligence and surveillance arrays, the military says.