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
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Large rocket salvo launched from central, western Iranian provinces toward "Israel".
Iranian Armed Forces: Do not allow the criminal regime to use you as human shields.
Iran's Armed Forces: Over the past days, Iran has accurately and successfully targeted military, security and strategic facilities of Zionist enemy.
Iranian Armed Forces to settlers: Leave occupied territories immediately, as they will certainly be uninhabitable in the near future.
Iranian Armd Forces: Most assuredly, the scope of Iran's destructive retaliation will include all corners of the occupied territories.
Iran's Armed Forces warn Israeli settlers: Netanyahu’s criminal regime has launched a doomed aggression based on a grave miscalculation.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Air defenses engaged in western provinces and east of capital Tehran to confront Israeli targets.
Tasnim news agency: Security forces successfully disarm bomb rigged to explode in Shahre-Rey, southern Tehran.
Asked about Reuters report that Trump vetoed Israeli plan to assassinate Sayyed Khamenei, Netanyahu said: I'm not going to get into that.
Reuters citing two US officials: Trump in last couple of days vetoed Israeli plan to assassinate Iran's Leader.

New outposts signal long-term Israeli occupation in Lebanon, Syria

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: New York Times
  • 31 Mar 2025 18:29
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

Zionist forces have occupied areas within the demilitarized zone established after the 1973 war and have also pushed beyond it, taking control of strategic high ground such as the hills above Kodana.

Listen
  • x
  • A photo taken from the southern Lebanese village of Sarada shows the Israeli flag flying over the Al-Hamames hills facing the Israeli settlement of Metulah on Feb. 19, 2025. (AFP)
    A photo taken from the southern Lebanese village of Sarada shows the Israeli flag flying over the Al-Hamames hills facing the Israeli settlement of Metulah on Feb. 19, 2025 (AFP)

The New York Times on Monday revealed that the Zionist regime is entrenching its military presence in both Syria and Lebanon, building a network of outposts and infrastructure that signals a potential long-term occupation of neighboring lands.

The report notes that the occupation claims these deployments are a defensive measure. Yet, no timeline has been provided for their withdrawal, and instead, construction projects suggest an enduring military foothold in areas where resistance groups continue to challenge Israeli expansionism.

Satellite imagery, eyewitness accounts, and UN sources confirm the establishment of fortified positions, roads, surveillance towers, and military housing in illegally occupied lands. In the Syrian town of Jubata al-Khashab, heavy machinery has been spotted alongside new barriers and defensive walls, underscoring the scale of the ongoing land grab.

  • Source: Planet Labs
    Source: Planet Labs

Zionist forces have occupied areas within the so-called demilitarized zone established after the 1973 war and have also pushed beyond it, taking control of strategic high ground such as the hills above Kodana.

"They say it's temporary, but based on what they're building, it seems they're preparing to stay for a while," said Omar Tahan, a local figure from Kodana.

Related News

Israeli Damascus advance breaches sovereignty, fuels tensions: Syria

Islamic State eyes resurgence in Syria, Iraq, exploiting divisions

A similar pattern is visible in southern Lebanon. Despite a cease-fire agreement reached in late November which stipulated Israeli withdrawal, the regime continues to hold positions in at least five locations and disrupted the return of displaced people by continuously firing at them and destroying prefabricated homes. Rather than withdrawing, it has escalated its military build-up and attacks on Lebanese territory.

Entrenched Occupation

Following the ceasefire in Lebanon, Israeli aggression escalated along the blue line, as the Israelis unleashed air and artillery assaults on southern Lebanon — despite Hezbollah's commitment to the truce. While displaced Lebanese families are steadily returning to their homes, Zionist settlers have refrained from doing the same, a reflection of the regime's inability to guarantee security within its settlements.

Last summer, Israeli attacks claimed the lives of several Hezbollah commanders, but the resistance remains firm. Lebanese authorities report that around 4,000 people were killed and over 16,000 injured in what many see as a punitive campaign against Lebanon.

In Syria, the Israelis moved aggressively to fortify their hold, establishing at least nine outposts across the south. Citing distrust in Syria's newly formed government — which came to power after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad — Tel Aviv has expanded its reach into formerly demilitarized zones, backed by continued airstrikes.

Though Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Shara, reaffirmed Damascus's commitment to the 1974 cease-fire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the agreement, declaring it void and calling for the "complete demilitarization" of southern Syria.

Read more: Macron urges Netanyahu to halt Gaza bombardment, restore ceasefire

Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz recently admitted that the forces are planning to remain "for an indefinite period." Katz also announced that the Israelis would begin issuing work permits to Syrians for jobs in the occupied Golan Heights — territory illegally seized in 1967 and annexed in defiance of international law.

In recent weeks, new military infrastructure has appeared near Quneitra and Hader. Trenches and concrete barriers are being dug near the Alpha Line, further entrenching Israeli control.

Across southern Lebanon, Israeli troops continue to hold their ground. At sites like Khiam, Markaba, Houla, Aitaroun, and Marwahin, satellite images have confirmed the construction of military bases, roads, and fortified compounds. In some cases, Israeli flags have been raised on Lebanese land even after the agreed withdrawal date passed — a symbolic assertion of continued occupation.

  • Source: Planet Labs
    Source: Planet Labs

 

  • Syria
  • Israel
  • Lebanon
  • Quneitra
  • Gaza

Most Read

Iranian missiles impact Israeli sites in Tel Aviv in 2nd wave

Iran's missiles impact 'strategic' Israeli site in Tel Aviv

  • Politics
  • 14 Jun 2025
Smoke rises after an Iranian ballistic missile directly struck Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

Op. True Promise 3: Iran's ballistic missiles strike Tel Aviv

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025
'Israel' launches major strike against Iran's nuclear program

'Israel' launches massive aggression on Iran

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025
The flag of the International Atomic Energy Agency flies in front of its headquarters during an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (AP)

Tehran unravels documents exposing secret IAEA-'Israel' collusion

  • Politics
  • 12 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks to journalists after a meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Iran confirms targeting Haifa oil refinery, vows continued retaliation

An Israeli military working dog searches rubble for survivors in an area hit by a missile fired from Iran, near Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, Sunday, June 15, 2025.(AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli General warns of strategic defeat in war with Iran

Steve Bannon speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP)
Politics

Steve Bannon accuses 'Israel' of pushing US into war with Iran

The Haifa oil refinery burns after being targeted by an Iranian missile, June 15, 2025 (Social Media)
Politics

Iran causes significant damage to Haifa oil refinery, pipelines

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