Israel building military line in occupied Syrian territory, Damascus says

Syria has accused Israel of constructing major military fortifications in Syrian territory along the Golan Heights, a move that could further solidify a territorial claim and obstruct a US peace initiative. The Syrian Foreign Ministry alleged that Israel is striving to complete the "Sufa 53 Line" in blatant disregard of a 1974 agreement on force disengagement brokered by US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

The agreement followed Syria's unsuccessful 1973 war to reclaim the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau that Israel has occupied since 1967. The ministry stated on Sunday that the line represents an "aggressive approach of the Israeli occupation, alongside its attacks and field incursions."

Qatar and Jordan, significant financial supporters of the post-Assad order in Syria, both expressed disapproval of the Israeli actions and called for an end to Israeli occupation of Syrian territory. Israel has not yet responded to the accusations. If the Sufa Line is completed, the 1974 ceasefire line, negotiated by Kissinger, would shift east, reinforcing both existing and new Syrian territory occupation. Israeli armored brigade "Sufa" (Storm) played a crucial role in thwarting Syrian operations during the 1973 war.

Recent years have witnessed an increase in Israeli incursions into the occupied Golan Heights, with Israeli troops venturing into southern Syria and areas west of Damascus, and even occupying parts of these regions, following the overthrow of the Assad regime by rebel forces in December 2024. A security source in Amman revealed that Israeli construction on the Sufa 53 Line commenced in 2022, aimed at countering infiltration by Hezbollah and other militant groups backed by Iran, which had extended into the Syrian-controlled Golan Heights during Assad's rule.

The line, spanning from west Damascus to Jordan's border, includes a north-south road, significant barriers, observation posts, and firing positions, offering Israel enhanced flexibility to defend its Golan positions. It would run parallel to the 1974 armistice line, approximately two to three kilometers away, beginning near the Syrian town of Hader in Quneitra governorate, about 40 kilometers southwest of Damascus, and concluding in the Yarmouk river basin in Deraa governorate, near Jordan's border, according to the source.

The line does not appear to encroach on densely populated Syrian areas but traverses farms and other private Syrian properties.

After the 2023 Gaza war broke out, the aforementioned areas transformed into a launching point for Iranian-supplied rockets targeting Israeli troops in the Golan Heights. However, Israeli assaults in Lebanon and Syria significantly weakened Hezbollah, which withdrew most of its forces from Syria by the end of 2024, paving the way for the regime's downfall.

Last week, Syrian authorities reported the arrest of three Hezbollah-linked individuals and the seizure of rocket launchers in the southern Yarmouk river basin. This followed Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz's assertion that Israel was conducting "daily activities" across the Golan to counter threats, eliminate remnants of the old regime, prevent the consolidation of the new regime, and safeguard Israeli communities and borders.

The security source stated that the Sufa Line signifies the "collapse of trust" that the US sought to establish between the two parties. "They look at Damascus and perceive a militant regime backed by Turkey, despite Al Shara's desire to negotiate," the source commented. Turkey reportedly pressured Al Shara to engage in dialogue with Hezbollah.

Recently, Reuters reported that Hezbollah and Syrian government officials met in Turkey to ease tensions. The US, which supports Syria's present leadership, has facilitated several meetings between Israeli and Syrian representatives to negotiate a peace agreement between the two nations, focusing on halting Israeli attacks on Syria and the return of Israeli forces to the 1974 armistice line near the Golan Heights.

Early Monday, Israeli forces reportedly killed a man in southern Syria, describing him as an infiltrator. Syrian state news agency Sana announced extensive Israeli land-clearing operations in Quneitra governorate.