A new Israeli military outpost on the Syrian Mount Hermon, established over the past two months. (Credit: Image by Planet Labs, shared by Haaretz)
BEIRUT — Israel has built at least seven new military outposts in the demilitarized zone separating it from Syria, on the Syrian side, according to satellite images published by Haaretz on Tuesday. The Israeli daily described the infrastructure as a sign of an "extended period" of deployment, contradicting the Israeli government’s initial claims that its presence there was "limited and temporary."
The Israeli army had deployed on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, in the Golan, a few hours after the fall of the Assad regime on Dec. 8, 2024, violating the 1974 disengagement agreement brokered by former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. On Jan. 29, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the Israeli army would remain "at the top of Mount Hermon and in the security zone for an indefinite period to ensure the safety of the Golan Heights settlements, the north, and all citizens of the State of Israel."
These new advanced posts on Syrian territory extend across the entire demilitarized zone, from Mount Hermon in the northern part of the zone to Tel Kudna, in its southern part, near the border area between Israel, Jordan, and Syria, explains Haaretz.
The new military outposts span the entire demilitarized zone, from Mount Hermon in the north to Tel Kudna in the south, near the border area between Israel, Jordan, and Syria, Haaretz reported.
'A prolonged presence'
Discovering uninhabitable positions in the heights of the Golan, peaking at 2,000 meters altitude and containing significant water resources, the Israeli army has thus undertaken, over the past two months, where soldiers of the fallen Syrian regime were stationed, the construction of operational bases able to cope with "harsh climatic conditions," continues the leftist Israeli daily. Analyses of satellite images from the American company Planet Labs thus reveal the construction of housing, command centers, clinics, showers, or sanitary facilities.
After discovering the "harsh conditions" of the climate in the Golan Heights — rising to 2,000 meters and containing significant water resources — the Israeli army has spent the past two months building operational bases where soldiers of the fallen Syrian regime were once stationed, Haaretz reported. These bases are designed to withstand "harsh weather conditions," the newspaper added.
Satellite images analyzed by the U.S. company Planet Labs reveal the construction of housing units, command centers, clinics and sanitation facilities, including showers.
Haaretz finally notes that the construction, by the logistical divisions of the Israeli army, of better-insulated buildings against the cold, heating systems, generators, or water heaters ensures "living conditions suitable for a prolonged presence in this strategic area."
Alongside these revelations, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz officially stated this Tuesday that the Israeli army "will remain in a buffer zone in Lebanon with five checkpoints," again for an indefinite period, also arguing for the need to protect the northern cities of Israel.
