Quneitra
Quneitra is a strategic province and largely ruined city in southwestern Syria, situated on the border with Israel's Golan Heights. It serves as a critical friction point between the IDF and Iranian-aligned forces attempting to establish a permanent military presence near the Israeli frontier.
Quneitra holds immense strategic and symbolic importance in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Syrian regime, as well as its Iranian sponsors. Located in the Valley of Tears region, the city was largely destroyed during the 1967 and 1973 wars and subsequently became a demilitarized zone under the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement. While the city itself remains mostly uninhabited, the surrounding province is a vital corridor for the 'Golan File'—a Hezbollah-led initiative to build terror infrastructure on Israel's doorstep.
For Israel, Quneitra represents a primary security concern due to the persistent efforts by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah to utilize the area for intelligence gathering and as a launchpad for attacks. The IDF has historically maintained a policy of 'active defense' in this sector, targeting infrastructure and personnel associated with these threats. Recent developments indicate an increase in kinetic activity, with the Syrian government formally accusing Israel of conducting ground incursions and artillery strikes to prevent the entrenchment of hostile forces. These operations are often viewed as part of Israel's broader 'Campaign Between Wars' (MABAM), aimed at degrading Iranian capabilities in Syria without escalating to a full-scale regional conflict. The stability of Quneitra is inextricably linked to the broader security of northern Israel and the Golan Heights, making it a permanent fixture in Israeli defense planning.