Israel takes control of most vital water source, Al-Mantara Dam in Quneitra, Syria

Israeli forces have advanced into Syria‘s Quneitra region, occupying the strategic Al-Mantara Dam, one of the largest water reservoirs in southern Syria, according to regional reports.

The move follows Israel’s recent military advance in the area, with tanks and ground forces deployed and multiple military bases and fortifications established across key strategic points.

Israel’s control over water resources in Syria

Al-Mantara Dam serves as a primary water source for Quneitra, its surrounding rural areas, and the neighboring Daraa Governorate. The dam’s capture grants Israeli forces significant control over water resources in the region, with implications for both Syria and neighboring Jordan, a primary beneficiary of water from the Al-Wehda Dam.

Local reports indicate restricted movement in and out of the occupied areas, with Israeli forces implementing controlled schedules for civilian access.

Israeli soldiers from the 202nd Paratroopers’ Brigade were filmed on Jan. 2, pushing away a broadcast television crew from the Egyptian Al-Rad channel, during an argument that lasted for several minutes in Quneitra, Syria.

The journalists demanded that the Israeli soldiers not touch the video camera. The Israeli army says that the broadcast team got too close to an Israeli position and was therefore forced to move away.

Israeli military presence and infrastructure

Israeli forces have established fortified positions and advanced military infrastructure across several locations in the Quneitra countryside.

Eyewitness accounts describe the deployment of tanks, ground forces, and the construction of defensive barriers in the area.