Click to see full-size image. (SANA)
An Israeli agricultural aircraft sprayed multiple farms in the southern Syrian governorate of al-Qunitra with unknown chemicals on January 30, in the third such incident in recent days.
The state-run SANA news agency reported that the Israeli aircraft sprayed a wide area from the town of Jabata al-Khashab to the town of al-Hamidiyah, passing through the town of al-Hurriya in the northern countryside of al-Quneitra. Videos of the incident later surfaced online.
On January 27, a similar substance was sprayed by Israeli aircraft over farms west of the town of Mazrat Abu Madhra and the town of al-Hanout in the southern Quneitra countryside. Two days prior, the forested areas, farms, and pastures in the towns of al-Ashah, Koudna, al-Asbah, and al-Rafid, also in the governorate southern countryside, were sprayed.
The Agriculture and Environment Directorates in Quneitra took samples from these farms for testing, according to the SANA.
Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Alabi also brought up the issue during a Security Council session on January 29.
“In the last few days, Israeli occupation aircraft have repeatedly sprayed unknown chemical substances on Syrian lands and forests. The question here is, are the occupation’s alleged security concerns about trees, pastures, and livestock? Doesn’t the occupation know that the dignity and livelihood of the Syrian people are no less important than their lives?” he said.
The Israeli military invaded the buffer zone adjacent to the occupied Golan Heights in al-Qunitra right after the fall of the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad, and has since established a series of posts there, including atop of the strategic Mount Hermon.
The military has been also conducting operations in al-Qunitra, the neighboring governorates of Daraa and Rif Dimashq on a regular basis.
The chemicals being spread along the buffer zone are likely herbicides meant to prevent the growth of pushes that could obstacle surveillance.
The Israel military used the exact same tactic around Gaza before, with Palestinian media reporting long lasting damage to farms and scores of casualties.
Syria’s Islamist-led transitional government has been engaged in direct talks with Israel for around a year now. Recent reports indicate progress, with the Middle East Eye even saying that the United States is pressing both sides to sign a security agreement by March. Many issues are still stuck, however, as Syria wants the buffer zone back, and Israel is refusing to abound Mount Hermon.
Israel will not likely compromise. Its military is clearly planning for long term deployment in the buffer zone, as evidenced by its recent environmental control activities.
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probably something to make the borderregion unusable for aggriculture so they have a dead buffer region next to their borders where they can shoot everyone who gets close cause no civilians lives there any longer.
does agent orangegutan know about this?