Syria is concerned with military exercises that the Israel Defense Forces has been conducting in the Golan Heights, according to the Qatari newspaper Al-Watan.

Syrian sources told Al-Watan that the exercises are increasing the tensions in the area, and that Syria is closely following the IDF presence.

Syrian Defense Minister Hassan Turkmani ordered the Syrian army to heighten its alert "in order to curb an attack on Syria."

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The article mentions Chief of Staff Dan Halutz's recent tour of the area, an indicator that Syria is closely following what takes place in the Golan Heights.

According to the IDF, Halutz's surprise visit to the area on Monday was meant to assess the operational fitness of the troops.

The Syrian sources also referred to the addition of MK Avigdor Lieberman's party Yisrael Beiteinu to the coalition, calling in an example of "Israel's extremism following the war in Lebanon."

The sources warned that Israel is preparing an offensive on Iran, which would cause a "big explosion" in the region.