Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) standing over a mountain. Photo: Israeli Army.
Israeli leadership has vowed that its occupation in both Syria and Lebanon is indefinite, as permanent outposts have been established in both countries
The Israeli army is establishing two new outposts in the countryside of Damascus, facing the Hasbaya district of southern Lebanon, according to local sources cited by Al Mayadeen’s correspondent.
“The first checkpoint was established in the Al-Majbal area, located between the villages of Baqasem, Rima, and Arneh, opposite the Hasbaya district in Lebanese territory,” the sources said.
“The second military point was established in the Mount Hermon area, the Jabal Barbar point, overlooking the city of Qatna in the Syrian interior and the Rashaya district on the Lebanese side,” they added.
The sources went on to say that “the military helicopter landing pad in the Qasr al-Nafal area witnessed intensive landing and takeoff activity by Israeli helicopters.”
Syria TV also confirmed the Israeli army pushed deeper into Quneitra in southern Syria on 1 May.
Israeli media had reported in March that the Israeli army was setting up two military positions on the summit of Mount Hermon in the occupied Golan Heights.
According to Israeli Army Radio, one of the sites is an “abandoned Syrian site occupied by Israel.”
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Since former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s government collapsed in December, Syria has been plagued by a widespread Israeli occupation across large swathes of the country’s south. It has also been hit by hundreds of Israeli airstrikes, mainly targeting military infrastructure that belonged to the former Syrian army.
Israel also continues to occupy south Lebanon in violation of the terms of the ceasefire deal. It has violated the agreement with Lebanon thousands of times with near-daily attacks, including on the capital, Beirut.
At least two were killed and others injured on Thursday in Israeli attacks on the town of Mays al-Jabal in south Lebanon.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on 27 February that Tel Aviv is planning to keep its occupation forces in southern Lebanon and Syria “indefinitely.”
Satellite imagery reviewed by the New York Times (NYT) in late March confirmed that Israel is gearing up for a permanent military presence in both southern Syria and southern Lebanon.
