More than 50 years of war: Exchange of fire between Israel and Syria over the Golan Heights

(Patria) – The Israeli army issued a statement saying that its combat aircraft targeted military targets in Syria on Sunday after two rockets were fired from the direction of Syria towards the Golan Heights, controlled by Israel, the previous day.

Syrian state media reported large explosions near Damascus, and that three soldiers were killed in the attacks.

An Israeli spokesperson said it was not yet known who fired the rockets, but that the Syrian army was held responsible as the attack came from Syrian territory.

At the beginning of last week, the Israeli army announced that it had attacked a Syrian anti-aircraft position from which one of the Israeli planes was targeted, and Syrian state media later reported that one Syrian soldier lost his life in the process.

Media report that in recent years Israel has carried out hundreds of attacks on Syria, targeting its regional enemies Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah.

Iran and Hezbollah are fighting on the side of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Israel considers them to be turning Syria into a new front for fighting against Israel.

Significance of the Golan Heights

The Golan Heights cover about 1,200 square kilometers and are located about 60 km southwest of the Syrian capital, Damascus. Lebanon, Syria, and the Jordan Valley are visible from the plateau.

Until 1967, it belonged to Syria, only to be captured and occupied by Israel in the final phase of the Six-Day War, thwarting Syria's attempts to regain it during the 1973 war.

A year after the war, Israel and Syria adopted a separation plan that included the creation of a 70 km long demilitarized zone with a permanent patrol of UN observers. Nevertheless, the two countries remain in a state of war even after that.

In 1981, the Israeli parliament passed a law introducing 'legislation and administration' for the Golan, a move not recognized by the international community, which maintained the position that the Golan Heights are occupied Syrian territory. The United Nations, through Resolution 497, declared Israel's decision 'null and void, without legal effect, and without international legal effect'.

The territory, of great importance to Israel as it represents its most important water source, is inhabited by 30 Israeli settlements with more than 20,000 inhabitants. The Golan is also inhabited by about 20,000 Syrians belonging to the Arab Druze, who have never left the plateau.

The fertile land of the Golan Heights is excellent for agriculture, especially for vineyards and orchards, and Israel's only ski resorts are located there.

Even after more than 50 years since the occupation of the Golan Heights, Syria maintains its position that it will not accept a peace agreement with Israel unless it completely withdraws from the Golan. The US led peace talks in 2000, and Turkey mediated talks in 2008.

US President Donald Trump announced at the end of March that 'after 52 years' the US would fully recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights because the territory is of 'strategic and security importance for Israel and regional security'.