by Jason Ditz
When Israel invaded southwest Syria in December, the Quneitra Governorate was the first place hit. Right along the frontier of the occupied Golan Heights, Israeli forces entered after the ouster of the Assad government. They have only expanded the amount of area they’ve advanced into, covering more of Quneitra and also the Daraa Governorate.
Despite their expansion, Israeli forces haven’t established clear lines of control. They raid villages, harass locals, and move on. There’s a concern however that in some areas the occupation is getting a bit more official and permanent, with troops building new military posts.
Israeli troops are setting up a new base on al-Ahmar hill in Quneitra. Israel had already set up a base on the western part of the hill. Now they’re building a new base on the east side, and locals living in the area are concerned that’s going to make them a target.