‘Israeli’ forces advance into former military site in southwestern Syria

• ‘Israeli’ forces are advancing into a former military site in the Quneitra countryside as military construction and land-clearing activity continues across southwestern Syria.
• The latest move comes amid growing concerns over the expansion of ‘Israeli’ positions beyond the 1974 disengagement line and ongoing diplomatic efforts to establish a security agreement between Damascus and ‘Israel’.

‘Israeli’ military forces are advancing into a former military site in the Quneitra countryside in southwestern Syria, within the occupied Golan Heights.

The latest advance comes amid continued ‘Israeli’ incursions and military construction across southern Syria, particularly in Quneitra and areas extending toward the Yarmouk Basin near the Jordanian border.

Recent reports indicate that ‘Israeli’ forces have been using bulldozers and other military vehicles to expand roads, trenches and fortified positions in the area. Damascus has accused ‘Israel’ of seeking to establish a permanent military presence inside Syrian territory.

Read more: 'Israeli' military kills individual near Syrian border

The developments are linked to the construction of what Syria has described as the “Sufa 53” military line, a network of roads, trenches, earthworks and observation positions extending through parts of Quneitra toward the Yarmouk Basin.

According to recent reporting, the project began in 2022 and has expanded significantly since ‘Israeli’ forces moved into the UN-monitored separation zone following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024.

The route is designed to facilitate the movement of military vehicles and strengthen defensive positions. Reports indicate that some sections extend east of the Alpha line established under the 1974 disengagement agreement.

The United Nations has continued to regard the presence of ‘Israeli’ forces inside the separation zone as inconsistent with the 1974 agreement, which established a buffer zone monitored by the UN Disengagement Observer Force.

Syria has repeatedly condemned the military activity, describing it as a violation of its sovereignty and the 1974 disengagement agreement.

Syria’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, has also warned about the broader consequences of continued attacks on Syrian territory.

Speaking before the General Assembly’s Sixth Committee, Olabi said continued ‘Israeli’ attacks “undermine state efforts to restore security and stability and combat terrorism” and create a “fragile environment for terrorism.”

His remarks came as Damascus has sought to rebuild state institutions and strengthen security following years of conflict.

The expansion of military infrastructure has also affected farmland and grazing areas in Quneitra, with reports of residents facing restrictions on access to agricultural land and water sources.

Amnesty International said in May that its investigation documented the destruction of civilian homes in Quneitra, including cases in which families were forced from their homes before the structures were destroyed.

Recent reporting has also documented raids, arrests and restrictions on movement in villages across Quneitra and western Daraa.

On Monday, ‘Israeli’ forces killed a man in southern Syria after the military said he had attempted to enter one of its military posts in an area it described as a “security zone.” The incident came amid renewed military activity in Quneitra and Daraa.

The escalation is taking place while US-backed efforts to reach a security arrangement between Syria and ‘Israel’ remain underway.

The talks have focused on security along the border and the possible return of ‘Israeli’ forces to positions established under the 1974 disengagement agreement.

However, continued military operations and the construction of fortified positions have complicated those efforts, with Damascus arguing that the expansion of ‘Israeli’ control undermines prospects for a stable agreement.

For Syria, the developments in Quneitra represent not only a military concern but also a challenge to its efforts to restore territorial control and security in the country’s south.