Reports of Israeli engineering activity in the Quneitra area in southern Syria reflect a deep strategic shift following the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024. Israel is now operating openly in areas that were once part of the UN buffer zone—and beyond—reshaping the terrain for security purposes.
WHAT’S BEHIND THE ACTIVITY?
Large-scale engineering work includes leveling farmland and forests, digging deep trenches (5–7 meters), and building earthen berms and physical barriers.
Israel is also constructing a new security route, “Sufa 53,” inside Syrian territory, enabling improved troop mobility and border monitoring. Vegetation and wooded areas—such as near Jubata al-Khashab—are being cleared to eliminate hiding spots for terrorists attempting to approach the border.
The IDF has also taken control of key elevated positions like Tel al-Ahmar, installing mobile structures for sustained deployment.