(JNS) Thousands of Syrian civilians are fleeing to the Israeli border to escape the military bombardment of Syrian President Bashar Assad on rebel-held territories in Daraa province.

Up to 50,000 people have been displaced by airstrikes, with Jordan declaring that it has closed its borders to any new refugees. There are already approximately 660,000 registered Syrian refugees in Jordan, with hundreds of thousands more displaced persons.

The United Nations responded that warring parties should protect civilians, in accordance with international law.

While many refugees continue to make their way toward Jordan despite the country’s rejection, others are running to the Syrian border with Israel with the understanding that the Syrian regime and its Russian support apparatus would not dare to bomb so close to the Jewish state.

Israel does not admit Syrian refugees, but has treated thousands presenting with injuries from the seven-year civil war. The Israel Defense Forces said it would continue to monitor the situation on the border.