Israel is secretly supporting Syrian rebels operating near its occupied Golan Heights territory, providing money, food, fuel and medical supplies, according to fighters who claim to receive the aid.
Israel has previously treated wounded Syrian rebels in its hospitals but interviews with rebels conducted by the Wall Street Journal suggest that Israel is directly supporting opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the six-year-long civil war.
Israel is opposed to the rule of Assad and his forces. It also sees militants belonging to Lebanese militia Hezbollah who support Assad’s regime forces as posing a threat to its security on the Golan Heights border.
The payments are aimed at creating a buffer of friendly forces on the Golan Heights border, the Journal reports, to keep their foes at a distance.
It says the Israeli military has direct communication with rebel commanders and is providing funds to them that pay for their salaries, ammunition and weapons. The payments began in 2013 under former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon and continue.
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