Israel concerned over al-Qaida presence

Israeli military officials are concerned over the increase of al-Qaida affiliated militants in Syria operating near Israel's border, officials said. The assessments come in the wake of Friday's bomb attack in which a remote-controlled device planted on the Syrian side of the border was detonated near an Israeli military jeep. While no one was injured in the attack, Israeli military officials are concerned over the increased presence of thousands of jihadist fighters affiliated with al-Qaida operating near Israel's border, the Hebrew language daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported Sunday. "We don't know who is responsible for the attack, but I advise all those on the other side of the border not to put us to a red line test, we will defend our interests," the paper quoted Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon saying Saturday. Since the outbreak of civil strife in Syria in March 2011, the Israeli army has strengthened the security fence along the border with Syria, enhancing it with advanced technology in order to prevent infiltrations into Israel. In addition the army maintains a constant presence of skilled soldiers and also employs D-9 bulldozers near the border fence, the paper said. There have been a number of incidents in which stray mortar fire and light weapons fire from Syria has spilled in to Israeli areas. Last Monday, a Syrian sniper near Quneitra fired at Israeli soldiers who returned fire and the same day a mortar shell fired from Syria exploded in the Israeli Druse village of Majdal Shams. No injuries were reported.