Israel clears landmines along Golan Heights border
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Israeli forces have intensified efforts to clear landmines and construct new barriers along the border between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and a demilitarized zone adjacent to Syria, sources said on Tuesday.
Security sources and analysts told Reuters that these developments indicate Israel’s potential preparation for military actions against Hezbollah from a new eastern position.
This move could provide a secure base for reconnaissance and prevent infiltration by the group.
Recent reports from Syrian government’s intelligence, military personnel, and Lebanese security officials highlight Israel’s increased activity in the area since Oct. 1, with tanks briefly entering Syrian territory to support engineering works.
This expansion could lead to a wider conflict involving Hezbollah, Hamas, and possibly Iran, raising concerns of broader regional escalation, according to the sources.
The Golan Heights is a strategically significant plateau in the Levant, spanning about 1,200 square kilometers. Originally part of southwestern Syria, the region was captured by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967. Israel later annexed the area in 1981, a move not recognized internationally.
The U.N. maintains a demilitarized buffer zone between Israeli-occupied Golan and Syria, though tensions persist due to ongoing conflicts involving Israel, Hezbollah, and Syrian forces.
On Oct. 11, a local source told North Press that the Israeli forces advanced into Quneitra Governorate, southern Syria, annexing new areas into Israel.
The source said that the forces entered the village of Kodana in the southern countryside of Quneitra, advancing 500 meters into Syrian territory, accompanied by bulldozers and armored vehicles mounted with machine guns.
Last month, war between Hezbollah and Israel flared up amid broader conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah intensified its attacks on Israeli military positions near the Israel-Lebanon border, firing rockets and anti-tank missiles. In response, Israel conducted airstrikes and ground operations on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.