Amid expectations of new developments on the southern front with Israel, Russian forces operating in Syria have established a new observation point in the western plains of Quneitra countryside. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that this move is part of efforts to reduce tensions in the region between groups allied with Hezbollah and Israel.
In contrast, on the Israeli-occupied side of the border, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the establishment of a new military brigade along the Lebanese-Syrian border based on an assessment of the situation and to enhance operational responses on the border. Israeli media reported that this brigade, named the "Mountain Brigade," falls under Unit 210 and is led by Colonel Liron Ablman.
The "Mountain Brigade" is specialized in combat in complex terrains and mountain warfare and will begin its operations in the coming weeks to protect the Mount Hermon area and the Shebaa Farms, referred to by Israelis as "Har Dov."
Israeli reports noted that the creation of the brigade is a continuation of the joint operations of the planning and force-building section, the ground forces, and the northern command, analyzing the operational needs of the Israeli military during wartime.
The commander of Unit 210, Major Zion Ratzon, stated that the establishment of the brigade will provide a qualitative operational response and enable preparation for both defense and attack scenarios that fit the terrain of the enemy in the area, on both the Lebanese and Syrian fronts.
On the Syrian side, following the establishment of a new Russian observation point near the town of Bir Ajam, the number of Russian observation points in the area near the Syrian-occupied Golan Heights has reached 11. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights recorded a new Russian observation point established in February of this year in the western plains near Bir Ajam in Quneitra's countryside, as part of efforts to reduce tensions between groups aligned with Hezbollah and Israel.
Tensions have returned to the southern front with Israel following the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip on October 7, amid threats from the Iran-Hezbollah axis to expand fronts and to bring in Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces with several of their militias in Syria alongside Hezbollah elements to the southern front. At the same time, Israel is attempting, through operations within Lebanese and Syrian territories, to keep Hezbollah away from its borders.
The UN peacekeeping force "UNDOF" was established by a resolution from the UN Security Council in 1974 to monitor the Israeli-Syrian disengagement agreement in the Golan Heights, which Israel has occupied since the 1967 war. It is noteworthy that Irish troops withdrew from the peacekeeping forces in the Golan Heights, and were replaced by a Kazakhstan peacekeeping force of 139 soldiers on Tuesday, March 19.
