BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:40 P.M.) – A number of tanks belonging to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) allegedly crossed the demilitarized zone in the occupied Golan Heights and entered Syria’s Al-Quneitra Governorate, the Sputnik News Agency’s Arabic language channel reported on Thursday

According to Ali Hassan, a correspondent for the agency, the IDF tanks crossed the Allon line and traveled deep into the demilitarized zone approved by the United Nations in 1974 as a neutral territory bordering the separate forces after the Six-Day War.

In response, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) reportedly raised their alert levels and moved forces towards the demilitarized zone.

The Sputnik correspondent said the Israeli forces purposely crossed the border to cover up their engineering projects and to “seal the corridor” which was previously used by the IDF to communicate with the rebels in the occupied Golan Heights.

This corridor was used by the Israeli Defense Forces to deliver supplies to the rebels, including the Free Syrian Army (FSA), and evacuate the wounded from the nearby Al-Quneitra Governorate.

Al-Masdar reached out to the Syrian Arab Army’s 9th Division near the occupied Golan Heights; they said the IDF tanks entered the DMZ, but denied that they moved into the Al-Quneitra Governorate.