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                     Israeli Airstrikes Kill Syrian Solider

   Israeli airstrikes against Syrian military positions in the Golan
   Heights killed one soldier and wounded seven in the most serious
   escalation between the two neighbors since Syria`s civil war broke out
   three years ago.
   Syria`s military confirmed the casualties from the strikes, which came
   in response to an attack Tuesday on Israeli forces across the
   Israeli-Syrian cease-fire line in the Golan.
   Both sides issued stark warnings following the incidents.
   Israeli military officials said the targets Wednesday included an army
   training facility, military headquarters and artillery batteries that
   had "aided and abetted" the earlier attack on an Israeli army patrol.
   The bomb attack was the third such incident along Israel`s northern
   borders in less than two weeks and the first to cause Israeli
   casualties. Four soldiers were wounded, one severely.
   [[
   An Israeli military spokesman called the blast "an unacceptable
   escalation of violence from Syria" and vowed that Israel would not
   tolerate threats to its forces and people.
   The attacks appear to have been carried out in revenge for a series of
   airstrikes blamed on Israeli forces over the past year against weapons
   convoys and warehouses, mostly in Syrian territory.
   Israeli says it will act to prevent the transfer of advanced weapons
   from Syria to the Lebanese Shi`ite Hezbollah militia, which is
   currently fighting in Syria to aid that government`s fight against
   Sunni rebel forces.
   Also Wednesday, Syria and its Russian ally criticized the decision by
   the United States to suspend the operations of Syria`s embassy in
   Washington and consulates in other cities.
   The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the action as a violation of
   international diplomatic conventions, while Moscow called it "worrying
   and disappointing."
   Syria announced on March 10 it would stop providing consular services
   in the United States. State Department officials said while embassy and
   consular activities were affected the U.S. was not severing diplomatic
   relations with Syria.
   Meanwhile, aid officials said a U.N. convoy of about 80 trucks prepared
   to cross the Turkish border into Syria for the first time, a step they
   hope will pave the way for humanitarian access to the country`s most
   desperate areas.
   The U.N. Security Council last month unanimously called for Syrian
   authorities and rebels to allow prompt access for humanitarian supplies
   across front lines and borders by the most direct routes.
   Last week, Syria granted its approval to the opening of the border
   crossing and sources said Turkey has also given the delivery the
   go-ahead.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/israeli-airstrikes-kill-syrian-solider/1874520.html