Israel is 'constructing a road' along the Alpha Line at the border with Syria

The Associated Press reported, citing satellite images, that Israel is constructing an asphalt road along the 'Alpha Line', an area that separates the occupied Golan Heights from Syria and is monitored by the United Nations. The news agency reported on Monday, November 21, that analysis of new satellite images shows that Israel has so far constructed several kilometers of this road along the 'Alpha Line'. The 'Alpha Line', which marks the demilitarized zone between the occupied Golan and Syrian territory, has been the site of UN peacekeepers since 1974, and no major conflicts have been reported there during this time. Nick Birnbach, a spokesperson for UN peacekeeping forces, confirmed in an interview with the Associated Press that the organization has observed Israeli construction activities in this area over the past few months. He stated that Israeli forces and machinery have, in some cases, entered the separation zone, saying, 'The presence of any military forces, equipment, or activities by Israel or Syria in the separation area is not permitted.' According to the Associated Press, satellite images show that construction by the Israeli army began in late September; that is, after the completion of a road in the Gaza Strip intended to serve as a buffer zone with Israel. The report states that analysis of the latest satellite images recorded by the company 'Planet Labs' on Tuesday shows the construction of a 7.5-kilometer road that starts near the Druze village of Majdal Shams in southern Lebanon and runs parallel to the Alpha Line. The Druze village of Majdal Shams is located in southern Lebanon and is under Israeli occupation; this village made headlines about four months ago following the death of 12 children in a soccer field due to a rocket strike. According to the Associated Press, satellite images show that embankments have been built on both sides of this 7.5-kilometer road, with the Syrian side also fenced off, and the asphalt work on parts of the road has been completed. Satellite images also indicate continued activity of bulldozers and construction machinery of the Israeli army along the Alpha Line, an area that has been extensively mined during decades of war. Israel has not publicly announced construction activities in this area, but in a letter sent to the UN in June, it referred to 'violations of the Alpha Line by Syria and the ongoing armed presence of Syrian forces in this area.' Syria has repeatedly accused Israel of conducting attacks against the country from its occupied territories in the Golan Heights. Israel took control of the Syrian Golan Heights during the Middle East war in 1967 and annexed it in 1981, a move rejected by UN resolutions. In 2019, then-US President Donald Trump recognized Israel's control over the Golan Heights. Approximately 1,100 UN peacekeeping forces are present along the Alpha Line.