Israeli fortifications devastate farmland in southern Syria
Trench and military road construction near ceasefire line destroys thousands of acres, disrupts water flow, and restricts civilian movement
DAMASCUS, Syria (MNTV) — Israeli military fortification projects in southern Syria have caused widespread environmental and economic damage, rendering thousands of acres of farmland unusable and severely impacting local communities, residents and officials in Quneitra have said.
The construction, carried out near the ceasefire line in the rural Quneitra countryside, is part of a project known as the “Sufa Line” or “Sufa 53,” launched by Israel in 2022 under the stated pretext of preventing attacks by Iran-backed groups.
The expanding fortification stretches from the northern Quneitra district near the town of Hadr and runs through multiple villages, including Jubata Al Khashab, Hamidiyeh, Qahtaniyah, Ruwayhinah, Bir Ajam and Bariqa, before extending south toward the tri-border area.
According to residents quoted by Anadolu Agency, the project includes an approximately eight-meter-wide სამხედრო-style road reinforced with large earthen barriers, alongside observation posts and entrenched military positions running parallel to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Local officials say Israeli forces have pushed between 300 and 1,000 meters into the ceasefire zone, intensifying construction efforts particularly after the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024.
Quneitra Media Director Mohammed Al-Said said authorities have documented extensive destruction of agricultural and grazing land.
“A total of 12,000 acres of land in the northern and central countryside have been damaged,” he said, adding that communication with UN peacekeeping forces from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force has been limited and media access heavily restricted.
Residents describe a pattern of systematic destruction. Farmer Abu Saddam Hassan Ahmed from Jabata Al-Khashab said he lost around 10 acres of fruit orchards due to the construction, while his 400-square-meter livestock facility now lies within the trench zone.
He added that more than 7,000 acres of land surrounding the town have been affected, accusing Israeli forces of spraying chemicals over agricultural areas, destroying crops across hundreds of acres.
“The trenches disrupted water flow,” Ahmed said, explaining that sudden water discharge caused further damage to farmland and local roads.
He also revealed that his son has been detained by Israeli forces since 2024, with no information provided about his whereabouts.
Village head Mohammed Mazen Meryud said the trench, reaching depths of around five meters, has accelerated soil erosion and disrupted natural rainwater drainage systems.
“This situation directly affects livestock breeding and agriculture,” Meryud said, adding that forested areas have been destroyed, access routes blocked, and raids, detentions, and checkpoints have increased across the region.
Residents and local officials have condemned the project as a systematic assault on civilian livelihoods, calling on the United Nations and the broader international community to intervene and halt what they describe as ongoing violations.
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