Israel army says deploying in Syria buffer zone

TBS File

08 December, 2024, 05:40 pm

Final modified: 08 December, 2024, 05:56 pm

The Israeli army stated Sunday it had deployed forces to a demilitarised buffer zone in southwest Syria abutting the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights after Damascus fell to come up forces, reports AFP.

Israel had already stated the day earlier than, because the Islamist-led rebels without notice developed across Syria, that its squaddies had entered the UN-patrolled buffer zone to again peacekeepers in repelling an assault.

On Sunday, the military equipped a troop deployment there, citing “the that it is most likely you’ll moreover factor in entry of armed folk into the buffer zone”.

“Following the fresh events in Syria… the IDF [army] has deployed forces in the buffer zone and in numerous other areas principal for its defence, to guarantee the safety of the communities of the Golan Heights and the electorate of Israel,” the Israeli militia stated in a enlighten.

Israeli forces “will proceed to feature as lengthy as principal in bid to reduction the buffer zone and defend Israel”, it added.

The enlighten confused out that the Israeli militia “isn’t very interfering with the internal events in Syria”.

For the reason that come up coalition, led by Islamist neighborhood Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, started its renewed offensive in opposition to the forces of President Bashar al-Assad on 27 November, Syrian authorities forces maintain left positions come the Israeli-held Golan, per a battle video show.

Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, stated on Saturday that army forces had withdrawn from positions in Quneitra province, which incorporates share of the Golan Heights.

Most of the plateau has been occupied since 1967 by Israel, which later annexed it in a circulation not recognised by somewhat a pair of the worldwide community.

The buffer zone become established in 1974, environment apart the Israeli-held and Syrian territories, with UN peacekeepers stationed there since.

A UN Peacekeeping spokesperson stated on Saturday that UNDOF personnel had observed “unidentified armed folk in the gap of separation, including roughly 20 who went into one in all the mission’s positions in the northern share of the gap of separation”.

The Israeli militia stated it become “assisting the UN forces in repelling the assault”.

The UN spokesperson stated that “peacekeepers proceed to enact their mandated activities on the Golan”.

On Sunday, Lebanese media retailers reported an Israeli strike on Quneitra concentrated on an arms depot. The Israeli army declined to comment.

Early in Syria’s battle, which started in 2011 following the repression of anti-authorities protests, come up forces and jihadist groups had taken over aspects of Quneitra province.

In August 2014, Islamist rebels attacked UNDOF and took better than 40 Fijian peacekeepers hostage, preserving them captive for nearly two weeks.