Mortar explodes on Israeli Golan from heavy fighting on Syrian side

Two battalions of the Syrian army’s 7th Division Monday morning launched a counteroffensive on the rebels holding a section of the Qoneitra crossing into Israel. A stray mortar shell exploded on the Israeli side of Golan without causing harm. DEBKAfile: After being warned by Israel not to bring tanks into the demilitarized strip between the two sectors, the Syrian army is supporting its troops with self-propelled tank artillery fire from a distance.  The ratio of troops in the battle is 2:1 in favor of the Syrian army.