The Israeli army is in regular communication with Syrian 'rebel' groups and its assistance includes undisclosed payments to commanders that help pay salaries of their forces and buy ammunition and weapons, Wall Street Journal quoted about half a dozen Syrian terrorists.

The Israeli army is in regular communication with Syrian 'rebel' groups and its assistance includes undisclosed payments to commanders that help pay salaries of their forces and buy ammunition and weapons, Wall Street Journal quoted about half a dozen Syrian terrorists.

Israel has established a military unit that oversees the support in Syria and set aside a specific budget for the aid, one person familiar with the Israeli operation told WSJ.

WSJ notes that Fursan al-Joulan, based in Quneitra province, has roughly 400 fighters loosely allied with four other 'rebel' groups on the Golan that also receive Israeli aid, according to the commander Abu Suhayb and other 'rebels'.

Some of these other groups are affiliated with the so-called 'Free Syrian Army' or receive other Western funding and weapons.

In total, there are roughly 800 rebel fighters across more than a dozen villages in this area, where thousands of civilians live, sources said.