’Israeli’ Support for Syria Militants to Take over Golan Water

Firas Shoufi

"Israel" is seeking to loot Golan water, amid a dangerous dwindling of water level in Tabaraya Lake. Moreover, information indicate that coordination between Tel Aviv and the oppositionist gunmen in Qoneitrah province is beefed up day by day, in favor of "Israel's" water interests.

There hasn't been any tranquility on the battle front between the Syrian army and gunmen in Qoneitrah in South Syria for more than six months. As gunmen--mostly belonging to "The Islamic Front" and "al-Nusra Front"--concert their attacks on army outposts in the province's central sector, after they have almost fully taken over the southern [art, indeed show the bulk of the "Israeli" support for the armed groups, in a crystal clear battle to control water in the liberated segments of Qoneitrah.

Tabaraya Lake in the occupied Golan meets the needs of 1/3 of the "Israeli" entity yearly, according to recent studies. However, this year, "Israel" is more and more incapable of fulfilling its needs of water since the lake's water level is ebbing. "Israel needs every drop of water in liberated Qoneitrah to make up for its water shortage," a Syrian official scientific source said, adding that "Israel" was using gunmen to control Qoneitrah's water.

Military sources concerned with ongoing battles in the south, indicate that gunmen intended to attack all army outposts located nearby more than seven water dams and ponds in the province.
It is clear, according to other military sources, that gunmen do not settle in army outposts that are near the buffer zone after taking over them, but that they just destroy them, like what happened in Touloul al-Homr battle last month, noting that there are strategic hills nearby the barbed wire off Golan and Koudna water dam in the east, in addition to hills facing "Israeli" "Tal-al-Faras" outpost.

"An agreement between the occupation army and some Islamist factions was reached over Touloul-al-Homr, as per which gunmen only seize gains and do not settle in the outposts," the source adds.
Sources also warn of a likely attempt by "Israel" to loot the dams' water and pull out underwater by establishing pumps along borders.

Earlier this week, the army managed to restore order in Qataniyah in southeast Qoneitrah. Fierce battles kicked off last Thursday after Islamist gunmen from different hard-line groups took over two army outposts. They also revealed intention to reach Baath and Khan Arnaba, situation in northeast Qoneitrah, in a bid to control the entire central sector, or in what they term as "the battle of near arrival to the Prophet's Damascus."

Syrian military sources and eyewitnesses told al-Akhbar newspaper that gunmen entered the town from the western and southern sides, and that some of them came from the southern sector under the cover of the nearby "Israeli" troops.
Simultaneously, gunmen clamped down on outposts for the Syrian security forces located off Qoneitrah crossing point with occupied Golan, but failed to take over them.
Furthermore, military sources indicate that the occupation troops were closely keeping tabs on the headway of battles.
In the meantime, the army staged a fierce ballistic attack on gunmen pockets in Breika, Beer Ajam, Samdaniyeh, and Sadd-al-Rouhaniyeh. Security sources add that the absence of local fighters has started to come to light. "Battles between Nusra and the Free Syrian Army are taking place from Daraa till Qoneitrah."

The 72-hour "deadline" gunmen gave to the locals of Baath and Khan Arnaba to evacuate their towns has just expired. The statement, signed by Islamic Jihad Brigades, Beit-al-Maqdes Group, Nasser Salaheddine factions, and Golan Storm I brigades, came against the backdrop of accusations of the locals of supporting the army, after reconciliations that took place in the last few months led to local gunmen handing themselves over to the official authorities.