Israel has deployed reinforcements along the border with Syria, the Israel Defense Forces ( IDF) announced on 1 July.

According to the statement, Israel deployed additional tank and artillery forces on the Syrian front on Sunday as a precaution given intensified fighting over the border between the Syrian army and rebels. Near border were spotted Merkava main battle tanks, M109 self-propelled howitzers, M577 command post vehicle, and other heave combat vehicle.

It is noted that Israel pursues a policy of non-interference in the civil war in Syria, but will immediately respond in case of a threat to its population or the sovereignty of the country.

“The IDF will continue to maintain its non-involvement in Syria while at the same time responding forcefully to any violation of Israel’s sovereignty or endangerment of Israel’s citizens,” the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement.

In the Syrian province of Deraa in the south-west of the country, Syria’s government army continues the operation against groups of terrorists. The southwest was an early hotbed of the uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad and defeat there stands to leave rebels with just one remaining stronghold – the area around Idlib province bordering Turkey in the northwest.