Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Intense US efforts are being made to resolve differences, such as the issue of the Israeli presence on Mount Hermon and in southern Syria
Israeli media: The security agreement means amending the disengagement agreement, which will also address the Druze issue
Israeli media: Attempts to reach a security agreement between 'Israel' and Syria were among the topics discussed at the Paris meeting
Israeli media: Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif rejected a US proposal to join the recent tripartite meeting between Tom Barrack, al-Shaibani, and Dermer
Saba News Agency: Two martyred, five injured in a preliminary toll of the Israeli aggression on the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street in Sanaa
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: We observed a state of confusion among the enemy's aircraft squadron after Yemeni air defenses intercepted the attack
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: The Yemeni air defense forces succeeded in neutralizing a squadron of enemy aircraft and prevented airstrikes on some governorates
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: Our air defenses and missile forces forced a formation of enemy aircraft to flee the airspace
Member of the Ansar Allah Political Bureau, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti: The Israeli aggression on Yemen will not deter us from continuing to support Gaza, no matter the sacrifices
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Israeli aggression targeted the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street, southwest of the capital, Sanaa, with several raids

Israeli gov. approves plan to expand settlements in occupied Golan

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 15 Dec 2024 18:05
  • 6 Shares
6 Min Read

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Syria reports that Israeli forces are expanding their occupation in the countryside of Quneitra.

Listen
  • x
  • Israeli govt. approves plan to expand settlements in occupied Golan
    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."

Condemnations

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.

Baghdad followed suit, reaffirming Iraq's steadfast position in supporting Syria's rights to fully restore its sovereignty over its territories.

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.

Related News

Sheikh Tarif declined meeting with al-Shaibani, Dermer, Barrack

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

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.

Read more: Foreign powers seek to divide Syria: IRGC Chief

  • Syria
  • Occupied Golan
  • Golan Heights
  • Israel
  • Benjamin Netanyahu
  • Israeli occupation
  • Golan
  • Quneitra

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Palestine will not be liberated by UN reports, but by pursuing a different strategic horizon: one that does not beg for recognition. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Economy of Genocide: Albanese's report accuses, but doesn't dismantle system

  • Opinion
  • 18 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS