Two Civilians Wounded In Israeli Attack On Syria’s Al-Quneitra

A Merkava IV tank. FILE PHOTO: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems

On August 12, two Syrian civilians were wounded when a battle tank of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) fired two rounds at the outskirts of the town of al-Hmidaiah in the countryside of Syria’s al-Quneitra.

The target of the attack was reportedly an observation post of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) that is known to be frequented by members of Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Al-Hmidaiah is located within the UN-monitored 235 square kilometer buffer zone in al-Quneitra, which was established under the 1974 separation of forces agreement. Late on August 10, a force of the IDF advanced in the zone and reached the outskirts of the town of Khan Arnabeh.

The IDF made several intrusion into al-Quneitra buffer zone in the last few months, either to drive SAA troops and alleged Hezbollah members out from the zone or to destroy their observation posts there.

Israeli military operations in al-Quneitra buffer zone were not limited to ground intrusions and direct fire attacks. On July 10, a fighter of the Syrian National Defense Forces (NDF) was killed as a result of drone strike that targeted the outskirts of the town of Hadar.

The IDF appears to be working to establish indirect control over al-Quneitra’s buffer zone. In order to justify its recent operations within the zone, Israel have been accusing the SAA of violating the separation of forces agreement and making claims about activities by Hezbollah near the separation line.

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