The Israel-Syria border's Quneitra crossing. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) “does not recognize any Islamic State presence [at the Israel-Syria border]” and the Golan Heights are safe to visit during the High Holidays, IDF Col. Nir Ben-David said on Sunday.

Ben-David is deputy commander of the IDF’S 210th Division, which is stationed on the Golan Heights and the Syrian border. “There are other [groups] operating there,” he said. “Islamic State is still far off, many kilometers away. In the past year, the [al-Qaeda-aligned] Nusra Front has made headway on the Syrian [border].”

The IDF is closely monitoring the Syrian border, Ben-David said.

“We have developed many new capabilities in the Golan Heights. We are making changes and staying one step ahead of the enemy,” he said, according to Israel Hayom.