Syria and Qatar Condemn Israel's Sufa 53 Military Line
Syria and Qatar condemned Israel for completing the Sufa 53 military route, alleging the project violates the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and Syrian sovereignty.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Syria and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar condemned Israel on October 4, 2026, for completing the Sufa 53 line. Also known as Great Storm, the project consists of a fortified military route, observation posts, trenches, and earth berms located in the southern Quneitra countryside west of Al-Asha village, extending toward Hader and Mount Hermon.
Syrian officials characterize the construction as a flagrant violation of Syrian sovereignty and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, which established a UN-monitored buffer zone. Reports indicate Israeli forces have advanced between 300 and 1,000 meters beyond the ceasefire line, a trend that accelerated following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024. Syria has demanded the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces and called for international deterrent measures to prevent further regional escalation.
Israel maintains that its military operations in the area are driven by security considerations. These tensions persist despite security and stability talks mediated by the United States Department of State in Paris and Amman between 2025 and 2026.
