Bomb explodes in Golan near Israel patrol

The Israeli army said Saturday that a blast the previous evening on the Golan Heights was from a bomb detonated as patrolling troops passed by, but that there were no casualties. An investigation of the incident, which took place near the Syrian border, concluded that "the explosion was caused by a concealed explosive device operated against Israeli soldiers," a statement said. No casualties were reported from the explosion, which Israeli media said occurred on the Syrian-held side of the fence separating it from the Israeli-occupied zone. Israel seized 1,200 square kilometres (460 square miles) of the strategic plateau during the 1967 Six Day War and annexed it in 1981 in a move not recognised internationally. Syria has always insisted on its return as part of any peace treaty with the Jewish state. The ceasefire line had been mostly quiet until the Syrian uprising erupted in 2011. The Israeli-occupied sector has been tense since then but there have only been minor flare-ups, with Syrian small arms fire or mortar rounds hitting the Israeli side, prompting Israel to respond occasionally. Source: AFP