Newsletter
Newsletter Support JNS

IDF exposes, neutralizes explosives in southern Golan Heights

The devices were found during bomb sweeps of the demilitarized zone where an Israeli field clinic treated Syrian civilians wounded during their country’s seven-year civil war.

Israeli troops patrol the Israeli-Syrian border on Aug. 3, 2020. Photo by Basel Awidat/Flash90.
Israeli troops patrol the Israeli-Syrian border on Aug. 3, 2020. Photo by Basel Awidat/Flash90.

Israel Defense Forces troops on Tuesday discovered improvised explosive devices in the southern Golan Heights near the Syrian border, the military announced.

The bombs were exposed and neutralized during surveillance operations to locate explosives in the demilitarized zone where an IDF field clinic treated Syrian civilians wounded during their country’s seven-year civil war. The clinic, called Mazor Ladach (“relief for the suffering”), was launched in 2013 as part of the IDF’s “Operation Good Neighbor” and shut down in August 2018.

The IDF is currently investigating the possibility that Iran’s proxy terrorist organization, Hezbollah, which has infrastructure in the Syrian Golan and enjoys the protection of the Syrian military, played a role in placing the explosives, reported Ynet.

In August, the IDF thwarted an attempt by terrorists to plant bombs in the same area.

“Special forces carrying out an ambush near a military post in the southern Golan Heights identified a squad of several terrorists planting explosives near the border fence. An IDF force and IDF aircraft fired on the four-man squad simultaneously, hitting them,” the Israeli military revealed at the time.

Then, as now, it stated that it “considers the Syrian regime responsible for any action taken in its territory and will not allow any violation of the sovereignty of the State of Israel.”

“Gratitude is one of Judaism’s foundational values, and very much belongs on Rosh Hashanah,” Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz, of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, told JNS. “We will never forget the nearly 3,000 victims of this terror attack, many of whom were members of the Jewish community.”
The cohort includes 392 new immigrants—246 men and 146 women.
The fatalities were identified as Maj. (res.) Harel Birenstock, 34, from Nokdim, and Chief Master Sgt. (res.) Tamir Vaknin, 33, from Eilat.
The announcement comes as Israeli banks are expected to end correspondent banking services to Palestinian counterparts.