Israeli Army Violated Southern Syria Buffer Zone, Paved New Road There – Report

A Merkava IV tank. FILE PHOTO: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have paved a new road within the buffer zone in the southern Syrian governorate of al-Quneitra which is monitored by the United Nations, the Syrian pro-opposition Enab Baladi news outlet reported on November 10.

The new road violates the 1974 separation of forces agreement, which prevents the IDF from operating within the 235 square kilometer buffer zone in al-Quneitra.

The paving of the road started from the west of the town of Ain Eltinah on November 1. At the time, six Israeli armored bulldozers escorted by six battle tanks and three infantry groups entered the buffer zone. By November 10, the road reached the western outskirts of the town of al-Hurriyah. The road penetrates the buffer zone by 100 to 700 meters.

Enab Baladi said that IDF bulldozers swept dozens of farms which were planted with olive, fig and grape trees while paving the road.

The Syrian government has not yet commented on this blatant violation of the separation of forces agreement by Israel, neither has the UN.

The IDF made several intrusions into al-Quneitra buffer zone in the last few months, either to drive Syrian troops and alleged Hezbollah members away or to destroy their observation posts and fortifications there. Israeli operations in the buffer zone were not limited to ground intrusions, however. On July 10, a Syrian pro-government fighter was killed as a result of drone strike that targeted the outskirts of the town of Hadar.

The IDF likely paved the new road in al-Quneitra buffer zone to push Syrian troops further away from the separation line along the Golan Heights so that its soldiers could patrol the front with more ease.

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