Syria Condemns Israeli ‘Sofa 53’ Project in Golan Buffer Zone as Breach of 1974 Agreement

Syria’s Foreign Ministry condemned Israeli military excavation work near the separation line in the occupied Golan Heights, calling it a “flagrant breach” of the 1974 disengagement agreement. The project, known as “Sofa 53,” is described as a direct threat to regional security and stability. The ministry warned that the continued Israeli presence in the buffer zone violates international law and urged the international community to take deterrent measures.

In an official statement from Damascus, Syria’s Foreign Ministry denounced the resumption of excavations west of al-Asha village in southern Quneitra province. Israeli forces have advanced between 300 and 1,000 meters beyond the ceasefire line in recent months. The ministry emphasized that the occupation’s aggressive approach, including attacks and incursions, undermines international law and poses a direct threat to regional stability.

Syria reaffirmed its sovereign right over all its territory under international law and relevant UN resolutions. The country maintains that Israel’s continued presence in the buffer zone violates the 1974 agreement. Syrian authorities argue that such construction activities undermine decades-old arrangements designed to prevent direct military confrontation between the two states.

According to Syria’s Al-Ikhbariya television channel, the “Sofa 53” project involves the construction of an eight-meter-wide military road flanked by earth berms reaching approximately five meters in height. Israeli forces began work on the initiative in mid-2022 near Hader in northern Quneitra before extending the route through multiple villages, including Jabata al-Khashab, al-Hamidiyah, and Bir Ajam. The road continues south toward the tri-border area where Syrian, Jordanian, and Israeli boundaries meet.

As part of the ongoing construction, the Israeli army has established observation posts and military positions along the route adjacent to the ceasefire line. This has effectively created a fortified corridor through the buffer zone. Local residents previously reported that the project has rendered thousands of dunams of agricultural land unsuitable for farming and grazing, while disrupting natural water flows and permanently altering the rural landscape of Quneitra province.

Military construction in the area has raised concerns about the impact on local communities and the environment. The project’s expansion has led to increased tensions and a heightened risk of conflict in the region. Syria’s Foreign Ministry has called for international intervention to halt these violations and restore compliance with the 1974 agreement. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining peace and security in areas affected by occupation and military activity.

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