The United States on Wednesday 11 Elul released a travel advisory for the Golan Heights following a number of spill-over mortar rocket attacks into the Northern Israeli area. There have been numerous instances in which mortar shells landed on the Israeli side of the border as the civil war in Syria continues. Israel retaliated by targeting Syrian artillery cannons as Israel explains it holds Syria responsible for any and all spill-over crossing the border.

The US travel advisory states “Due to multiple mortar rounds launched from Syria and landing in the northern Golan Heights in recent days, we urge US citizens to carefully consider and possibly defer travel to that area until the situation stabilizes. The United States Embassy in Tel Aviv continues to closely monitor the security situation and advises US citizens to visit the website of the Government of Israel’s Home Front Command for further emergency preparedness guidance. Due to the recent mortar incidents, US government employees are temporarily prohibited from personal travel into the area north of Route 87 and east of Route 918 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

“Recent events underscore the importance of situational awareness. We remind you to be aware of your surroundings at all times, to monitor the media, and to follow directions of emergency responders.

“For additional information about security and safety issues in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, we remind citizens to review the Department of State’s travel warning and country specific information sheet”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)