An Israeli tank rumbles into position in the Golan Heights.<br/> <br />It is the first time in over 40 years the Jewish State has deployed tanks to the contested area, which officials say is in response to Syria's increasingly bloody civil war.<br/> <br />Battles between rebels fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces in villages nearby are being closely watched by Israel's military.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) SECOND LIEUTENANT YONI SHILO, COMMANDER OF AN ISRAELI TANK PLATOON, SAYING:<br/> <br />"I am here and know that there are battles inside Syria, my aim is to prevent them from spreading into Israel. I am here so that the border remains a border, their issues remain their issues and that they don't reach us".<br/> <br />Syrian rebels have been on the back foot against Assad's army in the south of the country, with pro-regime forces taking the strategic city of Qusair last month.<br/> <br />Assad re-shuffled the leadership of his ruling Baath party on Monday.<br/> <br />The shuffle is seen by s
