Israeli gov. approves plan to expand settlements in occupied Golan
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Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Syria reports that Israeli forces are expanding their occupation in the countryside of Quneitra.
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An Israeli army vehicle drives in the UN-patrolled buffer zone, which separates Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights, near the village of Majdal Shams in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights on December 15, 2024 (AFP)
The Israeli government announced Sunday its decision to advance settlement expansion in the occupied Syria Golan Heights, citing "the war and the new front facing Syria," as well as a goal to double the Israeli population in the region as a reason.
"Strengthening the Golan is strengthening the State of Israel, and it is especially important at this time. We will continue to hold onto it, cause it to blossom, and settle in it," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated.
He claimed that "Israel" is "not interested in entering into a confrontation with Syria" and will determine its policy toward Damascus "taking into account the situation on the ground."
"I remind you that Syria has been an active enemy of Israel for decades," Netanyahu said in a statement published by his office.
He indicated that under former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Syria allowed other forces to attack "Israel" from its territory and allowed Iran to supply weapons to Hezbollah.
"To guarantee that what happened before will never recur, we have taken intensive action over the past few days," Netanyahu said, adding that "in a few days, we have destroyed the capabilities that the Assad regime was building for decades."
Regarding the latest breaches, the Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Sanaa government strongly condemned the Israeli government's approval of the plan to expand settlements in the occupied Syrian Golan, reaffirming Yemen's solidarity with Syria and the Syrian people in confronting Zionist aggression.
Saudi Arabia on Sunday condemned as "sabotage" of Syria an Israeli plan to double the population of the occupied Golan Heights.
In a statement, Riyadh's Foreign Ministry expressed "condemnation and denunciation" of the plan, which it called part of "continued sabotage of opportunities to restore security and stability in Syria."
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the Israeli government's decision to expand settlements in the occupied Golan Heights.
Israeli forces 15 km away from Damascus-Beirut international highway
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Syria reported that Israeli forces are expanding their occupation in the countryside of Quneitra and have entered a new village, adding that they are advancing toward taking control of the town of el-Maalgah in southern Syria.
Our correspondent also noted that the Israeli occupation military has seized control of the most important freshwater sources in southern Syria, located in the al-Yarmouk Basin.
Additionally, our correspondent stated that Israeli forces are now 15 kilometers away from the international highway linking Damascus and Beirut.
According to Al Mayadeen's correspondent, Israeli drones are flying at low altitudes over the al-Yarmouk Basin in western Daraa, broadcasting messages to the elders of the village of Koayiah, calling for meetings with the Israeli military to reach agreements.
He added that the Israeli occupation military seeks further incursions into western Daraa, aiming to occupy Koayiah.
On its part, the Anadolu Agency reported that the Israeli military has occupied three new villages in southern Syria: Jamlah in Daraa Governorate and Mazraat Beit Jinn and Mughr al-meer in the Damascus countryside.
Moreover, the Israeli Channel 12 reported that the Israeli government unanimously approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to encourage demographic growth in the Golan Heights and Katzrin.
"The immediate risks to the country have not disappeared and the latest developments in Syria increase the strength of the threat - despite the moderate image that the rebel leaders claim to present," Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz said during discussions on Israel's defense budget, according to a statement.
Last week, Netanyahu claimed that the occupied Syrian Golan Heights is Israeli "for eternity".
Speaking in occupied al-Quds, he underscored that Israeli occupation forces' control of the high ground "ensures our security and sovereignty."
"Israel's" actions are considered "a violation" of the 1974 "disengagement agreement" between "Israel" and Syria according to both the United Nations and all countries neighboring occupied Palestine.
But Ahmad al-Sharaa, the head of the new Syrian administration, said the body has "no intention of confronting Israel."
"We are not looking to engage in a conflict with Israel and cannot bear such a battle," indicated al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, who is also the leader of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that managed, as part of an alliance, to capture most of the Syrian territory and lead to the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad last week.
'Israel' completely destroyed Syria’s air defense systems
"Israel", which describes its incursion into Syrian territory as a limited and temporary action aimed at ensuring border security, has conducted hundreds of airstrikes targeting strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria.
The Israeli occupation government has claimed that these operations aim to destroy strategic weapons and military infrastructure to prevent their use by groups that ousted al-Assad.
In a related context, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent said that the Israeli occupation military has completely destroyed Syria’s air defense systems, pointing out that "Israel" is not only targeting strategic weapons depots in Syria but also medium-level ones.
On Sunday morning, the Israeli military announced that its recent attacks had caused "severe damage" to Syria's air defense system, claiming that "over 90% of strategic surface-to-air missiles" had been destroyed.
Sputnik also cited sources as saying that approximately 52 Israeli airstrikes were carried out on Syria between Saturday night and early Sunday morning, with loud explosions reported across various Syrian provinces.
In detail, Israeli reconnaissance aircraft are daily monitoring Syrian military sites across the country, followed by airstrikes targeting those sites to destroy weapons, ammunition, and military equipment.
