Syrian forces re-captures strategic al-Haara hill overlooking Israeli-occupied Golan Heights

Damascus, July 17: The Syrian government forces months after reclaiming Eastern Ghouta province, on Monday took control over a strategic al-Haara hill overlooking the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

 

Notably, the Syrian army and its allies have taken control of al-Haara hill in Quneitra province after a fierce gun-battle with artillery strikes and airstrikes over the rebels. Confirming the development, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said that the Damascus government units had made a quick advance against militants in the western part of Dara’a.

It further stated that Syrian army had taken control of al-Haara hill on the second day of an offensive to take back the last parts of southwest Syria in Quneitra province that are in rebel hands and are close to the border with Israel.

Importantly, the Golan Heights, which had a major anti-aircraft radar base that was part of elaborate Syrian army defences against Israel, fell into rebel hands in October 2014. In the month of June this year, the Syrian government forces with Russia and Iran-backed allies launched massive offensive upon rebel-held towns of al-Harak and Busra al-Harir of the southwest region of the country, which borders Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights with artillery strikes and airstrikes.

In April this year, the Syrian government claimed Eastern Ghouta province which was held by Islamist-dominated fighters after a relentless six-week airstrike with rockets, barrel bombs. During the six-week of an offensive, at least 1,644 civilians, including 344 children, have been killed while hundreds of others were injured. So far, over 340,000 people have been killed since the civil war erupted in 2011.