Israeli forces continue to scale up efforts on the “Sufa 53 line” construction in southwest Syria’s Quneitra Governorate this week, adding a substantial number of heavy construction vehicles to the deployment for land-clearing work, and launching more reads on villages near line’s planned location.
Some nine Israeli vehicles crossed into Quneitra, initially entering the village of al-Ufaniyah before carrying out a raid against the village of al-Hurriyah. Israeli military helicopters were also seen flying overhead over the Daraa Governorate.
Sufa 53 is intended to be a “defensive” trench line cut through Quneitra Governorate preventing vehicles crossing toward the Israeli occupied Golan Heights. The plan is complicated by Israel intending to build the entire thing within occupied Syrian territory, and the line is separating a number of Quneitra farmers’ home villages from their farmlands, and hassling them when they attempt to access their fields.
A construction vehicles moves earth along the Sufa 53 line, Quneitra Governorate | Image from SOHR
Military operations have increased along that frontier in recent months. Yesterday, Israeli forces backed by tanks and other armored vehicles advanced into both Quneitra and Daraa Governorates. The forces were described as engaging in military maneuvers, though the purpose of such operations was unclear.
Wednesday’s operations also saw the detention of two young men by Israeli forces, in the villages of Asbah and al-Fatyan, respectively. The two were captured without explanation, as is common for Israeli operations.
Both young men were released hours later, similarly without explanations. Israel has detained scores of Syrian civilians, and while most are released in short order without consequence, a number continue to be held without charges.
