IDF detains infiltrator from Syria
Unarmed man arrested Tuesday soon after crossing
The IDF arrested a Syrian man on Tuesday afternoon after he was caught crossing the Syrian border into Israel, the IDF announced. The man was unarmed and was taken in for questioning. No further details were provided.
This rare incident comes on the heels of another attempt to infiltrate Israeli territory through the northern border. Just last month a Lebanese citizen, later identified as a mentally ill man named Ali Mari, crossed over from Lebanon into northern Israel on April 27 and was not detected by soldiers guarding the border.
After infiltrating, he walked toward the central bus station of Kiryat Shmona, about 10 km. from the border fence. He was arrested and interrogated by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) before being returned to Lebanon the next day through the Rosh Hanikra crossing via the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
According to an interview on Lebanese television, Mari’s father said that his son was mentally ill and had previously claimed that he was Jewish, telling his father that he had wanted to go to Israel.
“My son’s mind is not right; he says he was originally Jewish,” his father said, adding “Can you imagine a normal person doing such a thing?” Israel’s northern border with Hezbollah continues to pose an ongoing security threat which the IDF monitors.
The head of the Northern Command, Maj.-Gen. Yoel Strick, officially reprimand the battalion commander along the border. The deputy company commander who was responsible for monitoring the area was relieved of duty. Four other soldiers had disciplinary hearings.
Anna Ahronheim and Ariel Whitman contributed to this report.