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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| 'Israel' Advances into Quneitra, New Syrian Admin Provides No Deterrent Strategy |
| 2025-01-13 |
| [ENGLISH.ALMANAR.COM.LB] Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have intensified their incursions into southern Syria, particularly in Quneitra's northern countryside. On the 2nd of January, the IOF advanced into the Al-Hamr Hills near Hadar and Taranja, where they uprooted trees, demolished homes and agricultural lands, and destroyed Syrian Army barracks and weapons depots. The area has been declared a military zone, barring civilian access. Residents were reportedly ordered to hand over weapons allegedly looted from Syrian military locations. In the southern Quneitra Countryside, Israeli forces supported by tanks entered the villages of Al-Asha, Abu Ghara, and Al-Hiran farm, further solidifying control. They also destroyed fortifications and demanded civilian compliance under the guise of military security. Quneitra Israeli military armored vehicles block a road leading to the town of Quneitra (Jaunary 2025). In Jabatha al-Khashab, Israeli forces advanced and established new military points within Syrian territory, including constructing a 3-kilometer road inside the forest. The town's mayor emphasized the need to resist Israeli demands and called on the new Syrian government to address the violations. The occupation forces' control over weapons abandoned during Syrian Army collapses has fueled further tensions in the region. One of the most significant developments occurred when Israeli forces seized the Mantara Dam, the largest water reservoir in southern Syria, capable of holding 40.2 million cubic meters of water. By raising earthen barriers, the occupation has effectively blocked residents' access to this critical resource. This move exacerbates Syria's water security crisis, particularly in the face of climate change and declining reserves. |
| Posted by:Fred |