UN forces raise flag near Israeli base
UN forces UNDOF in Golan after the agreed Demilitarisation of Israeli and Syrian forces in the area (via UN)
UN forces were seen raising their flag in an area previously occupied by the Syrian Army and opposite a previously established Israeli base, according to a local source in the village of Kudna in southern Quneitra province, southern Syria, according to Asharq Al-Awsat on November 12th.
The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) is part of the UN’s efforts to maintain a ceasefire between Syria and Israel. The local source said that UNDOF may have established its presence due to growing concerns about Israel’s presence in Syrian towns and villages along the ceasefire line, which they fear may become permanently occupied.
Although many locals are unsure of what the UN forces are there for, they have witnessed soldiers in armoured vehicles and military patrols over the past few days, particularly in Tel Ahmar West, which is part of the Israeli base and Tel Ahmar East, which is part of Kudna.
The source has also reported heavy military movement coming from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to the Israeli base at the border. Omar al-Hariri, a local activist and journalist, said that the UNDOF has not taken on any new operational role apart from their normal procedures despite Israeli troops entering the demilitarised buffer zone.
The Israeli army has made moves into towns and villages in the Southern Syrian provinces, setting up checkpoints and blocking roads to stop civilians from moving freely. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Israel has targeted Syrian military sites, carried out ground incursions in Damascus, Quneitra, and Daraa, and established several bases along the border.
On November 11th, a Syrian Ministry of Defence delegation met the UNDOF Commander to improve cooperation and maintain security along the border. Strategic military analyst and former Colonel Ahmed Mohammad Deeb Hamadeh said that UNDOF raising its flag in Kudna signals the UN forces resuming their role in the area, in line with the 1974 agreement and UN resolutions.
Syria’s Al-Sharaa has said that US President Donald Trump supports Syria’s stance on the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the pre-December 8th borders. Although negotiations are ongoing with Israel, Syria is committed to its stance of Israel’s withdrawal.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Maghrebi.org
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