By Stan Goodenough
Aug 29, 2007
The Israel Defense Forces have "decided" that a war with Syria is unlikely at this time, and is therefore reducing its forces on the Golan Heights - the border between the two states.
This is according to reports in the Israel press Wednesday.
"IDF troops scheduled to hold maneuvers on the Golan Heights would now be moved away from the border to the country's south to further reduce friction, the officials said, and the army's war-readiness status on the Israel-Syria border is now considered over," Ha'aretz wrote.
While details were not divulged because they are "classified" Syria, which is known to have prepared its surface-to-surface missiles for use in an anticipated conflict, was also said to have lowered its war alert level.
Tensions between Jerusalem and Damascus have see-sawed since the spring amid rumors and reports that both countries were preparing for war but that neither wanted one.