Syrian rebels take towns near ceasefire line with Israel

Syrian rebels have taken over several towns near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Reuters reported. It's a sensitive military area that Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war, and later annexed. "We have been attacking government positions as the army has been shelling civilians, and plan to take more towns," Abu Essam Taseel, a spokesman from  the "Martyrs of Yarmouk," a rebel brigade, told Reuters.  

The Martyrs of Yarmouk are an Islamic militant group, the Associated Press reported, and their proximity to Israeli troops could give them a chance for an attack on the Jewish state.  Israel has said its policy is to not get involved with the Syrian war. 

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Despite this, Israeli soldiers have been providing medical care to wounded Syrians on the Golan Heights border, the Jewish Telegraph Agency reported. Four Syrians were treated, with two getting taken to the hospital.

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that the Syrians were admitted to the hospital for "humanitarian" reasons, Israel Hayom reported. 

Meanwhile Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has spoken out, telling newspapers that "all of Syria has been wounded," Al Jazeera reported. 

"But what is happening cannot weaken us, and the battle is one of will and resistance. If we are strong, we will be able to protect the sons of Syria," he said.