UNDOF forces intensify their patrols on the "dividing line" in Kenitra

 The United Nations Disengagement Observer Forces (UNDOFF) arrived in the vicinity of  the villages of Al-Rafid, Suissa and Saida Al-Golan, south of Quneitra, in preparation for conducting surveillance patrols along the line separating the occupied Syrian Golan, on Thursday, April 9.

According to media sources, the "UNDOF" forces, operating in Quneitra and the Golan, have intensified their security patrols in the last two days, along the areas and villages adjacent to the ceasefire line.

This follows repeated calls from residents to provide civil protection in Quneitra, especially after the increase in Israeli arrests and violations against the local population, the latest of which was the killing of a young man from the town of Al-Rafid, south of the governorate, on April 3.

The IDF continues to incur into the countryside of Quneitra, amid search campaigns, raids and arrests, as well as the erection of roadblocks.

UN forces continue to establish temporary night observation posts in the buffer zone under the responsibility of UNDOF and continue to interact with local communities.

This interaction contributes to enhancing transparency, building trust and strengthening positive feelings towards UNDOF's mandate and presence in order to invest in peace, according to the people of Enab Baladi.

UNDOF calls for restraint

The UNDOF forces issued a statement on April 4 about an attack by the Israeli army that killed a young man in Quneitra in southern Syria.

In it, it said that UN military observers spotted an IDF tank on the "Alfa" side firing two shells across the ceasefire line, and the point of impact was not determined.

UNDOF has launched an investigation into this incident and expressed its concern over the continued violations of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Israel and Syria, explaining that it is communicating with the parties in this regard, calling for an immediate halt to all actions that contravene the agreement.

It noted that it was aware of reports that a Syrian man had been killed near the Rafid area  in the southern countryside of Quneitra as a result of IDF tank fire.

UNDOF urged all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any action that would exacerbate tensions, stressing that civilians should never be targeted, and that any attack on civilians is unacceptable and a clear violation of international humanitarian law.

Narrowing the buffer zone

In parallel, Israel is moving to isolate some villages in Quneitra governorate, by  closing a number of main and secondary roads in various areas, in order to complete the restrictions it is carrying out in the villages of the buffer zone.

In this context, local sources said that the Israeli army closed the road connecting the villages of Al-Asab and Kudneh in the southern countryside of Quneitra, in parallel with the closure of the Ruwaihina road leading to the agricultural lands located west of the village, as well as the um al-Azam al-Shuli road in the western countryside of Quneitra with earthen berms.