Parts of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights remained closed for a second day Monday after Tel Aviv's defense forces announced Sunday that it would transform the territory into a "military zone" due to the spillover from Syria's war, according to Agence France Presse.
An Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokeswoman tolf AFP that the area around the Qunaitra crossing would be closed "for security reasons."
Other security sources elaborated in their commentary, saying that the IDF fears that "fighting between rebels and Syrian army forces would affect the area."
In early 2014, several rebel groups stationed near the occupied Golan Heights' ceasefire line established the "Southern Front," a coalition of approximately 30,000 rebel fighters from 55 groups. This latest move, along with several spillover mortar shells and related attacks, have posed as "security threats" to the occupied territory.
Israeli forces have occasionally used armed retaliations in response to the spillover attacks.
Israel assumed control of Syria's Golan Heights following the 1967 Six-Day War in a move that remains unrecognized by the international community.
