Israeli military building in Syria buffer zone, satellite image shows
2025-01-24
Category: news

Newly released satellite imagery shows Israel Defense Forces (IDF) construction taking place within the demilitarised buffer zone that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria.The image, obtained exclusively by BBC Verify, shows building work taking place at a location more than 600m inside what is known as the Area of Separation (AoS).Under the terms of Israel's ceasefire agreement with Syria in 1974, the IDF is prohibited from crossing the so-called Alpha Line on the western edge of the AoS.When contacted about the images, the IDF told the BBC its "forces are operating in southern Syria, within the buffer zone and at strategic points, to protect the residents of northern Israel."
The imagery captured on 21 January shows new structures and trucks at the cleared area.Construction appears to have begun at the beginning of this year, with lower resolution imagery showing gradual development at the site since 1 January.A new track or road measuring around 1km also appears to join with a pre-existing road that leads into Israeli territory.Drone photographs shared by a Syrian journalist 20 January shows trucks, excavators and bulldozers at the site.Jeremy Binnie, Middle East specialist a defence intelligence company Janes told us: "The photo shows what appear to be four prefabricated guard posts that they will presumably crane into position in the corners, so this is somewhere they are planning to maintain at least an interim presence".
The BBC has previously filmed military forces near the town of Majdal Shams, which is within the buffer zone and around 5.5km from the new construction.In November, satellite imagery also showed the IDF building a trench following the Alpha Line on the western side of the buffer zone, stretching past Jubata al-Khashab.Following the fall of the Syrian regime last month, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his forces to enter the AoS, saying: "We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border."The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) has previously said that Israeli construction along the AoS with Syria amounts to "severe violations" of the ceasefire agreement.
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