Syrian flag raised on Syrian side of Golan Heights

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Pro-Assad forces raised the Syrian national flag in the largely ruined city of Quneitra on Thursday, regained from surrendering rebels as the government tightens its hold on the Syrian sector of the Golan Heights, strategic territory bordering Israel and Jordan.

Uniformed men raise the Syrian national flag and the black, white, green and red flag of President Bashar al-Assad's Baath Party were seen in the long-abandoned city. No weapons were immediately visible.

Forces supporting Assad, backed by a major Russian air campaign, have been pushing into Quneitra province after an offensive last month that routed rebels in adjoining Deraa province who were once backed by Washington, Jordan and Gulf states.

Smoke rises above buildings across the border in Syria during air strikes backing a government-led offensive in the southern province of Quneitra, July 26, 2018. /VCG Photo

Pro-Assad forces began pushing last week towards the border area close to the demilitarized zone adjoining the Israeli-occupied area after rebels surrendered large parts of Quneitra province.

The Russians reached a deal with the last group of mainstream rebels in control of the rebel part of northwestern Quneitra province in a deal that now effectively brings the whole of the border frontier under state control, an opposition source said.

Under the terms of a 1974 UN armistice that demilitarized much of the Golan, Israel withdrew from the abandoned capital of Quneitra province which it had razed to the ground after capturing it in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. The destroyed town had fallen into rebel hands in 2014.

Syrian officials and members of the security forces are seen across the border as Syrian government forces retake their positions from the rebels, July 26, 2018. /VCG Photo

Pro-Assad forces have raised the national flag in several other towns along the frontier, including al Hamidiyah and Rafid, that overlooks a UN observation post.

A Russian-brokered deal allows the return of Syrian army brigades that existed before the conflict began in 2011 to where they were stationed near the demilitarized zone.

So far there have been no signs of a significant deployment of Syrian army troops to former posts near the frontier, according to a regional intelligence source.

Israel says it is concerned that Assad may defy the UN armistice, or let his Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah reinforcements deploy there.

A member of the Syrian security forces looks through a telescope as Syrian government forces retake their positions from the rebels. /VCG Photo

There is a strong presence in parts of Quneitra of Iranian-backed militias, the intelligence source said, adding that they have taken a low profile to avoid antagonizing Russia which had given pledges to Israel to curb their influence,

The Israeli government has signaled it would not impede the Syrian army presence in Quneitra as long as it kept away from the demilitarized zone. However, Israel said it will continue to escalate attacks along its frontier and elsewhere in Syria where it suspects Iranian-backed forces are stationed.

Mainstream rebels are completing a handover of weapons and in some instances negotiating with Russian officers about enlisting in army units that serve as local forces, opposition source say.

Source(s): Reuters