UN Forces Step Up Patrols Along Ceasefire Line in Quneitra

United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) troops deployed near the villages of Rafid, Suwaysah, and Sida Golan in southern Quneitra province, southern Syria, on Thursday, April 9, in preparation for carrying out monitoring patrols along the ceasefire line with the occupied Syrian Golan.

Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Quneitra reported that UNDOF forces operating in Quneitra and the Golan have intensified their security patrols over the past two days across areas and villages adjacent to the ceasefire line.

The move came after repeated calls from residents for civilian protection in Quneitra, especially following a rise in Israeli arrests and violations targeting local residents. The latest incident was the killing of a young man from the town of Rafid in the south of the province on April 3.

Israeli army incursions into the Quneitra countryside have continued, accompanied by search operations, raids, arrests, and the establishment of roadblocks.

UNDOF forces also continue to set up temporary nighttime observation posts in the buffer zone under their mandate, while maintaining engagement with local communities.

Residents told Enab Baladi that this engagement helps enhance transparency, build trust, and strengthen positive perceptions of UNDOF’s mandate and presence as part of peacebuilding efforts.

NDOF Investigates Killing of Young Man

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

The statement said UN military observers saw an Israel Defense Forces tank on the Alpha side fire two rounds across the ceasefire line, though the point of impact could not be determined.

UNDOF said it had launched an investigation into the incident and expressed concern over continued violations of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Israel and Syria. It added that it was in contact with both sides over the matter and called for an immediate halt to all actions that contradict the agreement.

The force added that it had taken note of reports that a Syrian man was killed near Rafid in southern Quneitra province by tank fire from the Israel Defense Forces.

Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Quneitra reported that the 17-year-old was killed after being hit by a shell fired by Israel in Rasem al-Za’aroura, while he was inside a car.

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

On April 3, UNDOF forces arrived at the site where the young man, Osama al-Fahd, was targeted by the Israeli army near the village of al-Za’aroura in the southern Quneitra countryside. They conducted a field assessment of the incident, then headed to Rafid to gather information and hear residents’ testimonies about the circumstances of the attack.

Israel moves to isolate villages

At the same time, Israel is moving to isolate some villages in Quneitra province by closing several main and secondary roads in different areas, as part of ongoing restrictions imposed on villages in the buffer zone.

Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Quneitra said the Israeli army closed the road linking the villages of al-Asbah and Kudna in the southern Quneitra countryside, while also blocking the Ruwayhina road leading to farmland west of the village, as well as the Umm al-Azam al-Shouli road in the western Quneitra countryside, by erecting earth berms.

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