Israeli troops have been operating in growing number in southwest Syria’s Quneitra Governorate lately, leveling homes and detaining civilians on unspecified charges. They have also taken to building roadblocks and bulldozing trees near the ceasefire line.
The home demolitions began Monday, and were reported in and around al-Hamidiyah, they moved into the northern neighborhood of the village and leveled every building there, around 15 buildings, mostly homes, were destroyed.
Troops also raided houses in the course of the demolitions and captured four civilians in the process. It’s not clear what’s happened to them or where they are being held. Israel has not commented on this operation.
Heavy bulldozers were also reported near the village of al-Asbah, where troops were erecting roadblocks to keep Syrians from being able to travel to nearby villages.
Further to the north in the governorate, around Jubata al-Khashab, heavy military earth movers arrived and were clearing brush as well as leveling pine trees in the area near the border between Syria and the occupied Golan Heights.
The exact scope of the northern operation isn’t clear, but around 500 acres of pine trees have been removed so far. As with the other operations in Quneitra in recent days, Israel’s military isn’t commenting or explaining what they’re doing, or why.
