Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — Al Qaida-aligned squads have been infiltrating Syria’s
Golan Heights, which neighbors Israel.

Syrian opposition sources acknowledged that Al Qaida fighters were
amassing a presence along the buffer zone in the Golan Heights near Israel.
They said the fighters, some of them from Jordan and Libya, have formed
groups meant to attack the Jewish state from Syria.

“There are more than a few jihadists who want more money from their sponsors, and the best way is to stage a provocation along the Israeli border,” an opposition source said.

The sources said the jihadist groups were also threatening the United
Nations observers force in the Golan Heights. They said the UN Disengagement Observer Force was regarded as helping Israel protect the Syrian frontier from infiltration.

On Aug. 4, a Syrian was shot when he tried to infiltrate Israel from the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. The Syrian was quickly evacuated in what was believed to have represented an attempt to test the response of the Israel Army.

For its part, Israel, which bolstered border security, has reported a
sharp rise in hostile activity from Syria. Military sources said Syrian
infiltrators, disguised as shepherds, were damaging the border fence.

The opposition sources said they expected Al Qaida-aligned or -inspired
squads to prepare for an attack on Israeli Army positions in the Golan
Heights. They said the regime of President Bashar Assad has maintained a
light presence in the Golan amid major operations to recapture the northern
city of Aleppo.

  Israel report Al Qaida presence in Golan Heights, Israeli Army, Syrian infiltrators disguised as shepherds, Syrian opposition, UN Disengagement Observer Force