Residents in Syria’s southern Quneitra countryside have reopened the Al‑Asbah–Kodna road, which was closed by Israel over ten days ago.
Local officials and residents told Enab Baladi that villagers have cleared part of the route, now allowing vehicles just under two metres wide to pass.
Shadi Azzam, one of those affected by the road closure, told Enab Baladi that “we opened the road ourselves using simple tools, just enough for a car to pass by the side of the route.” He added that Israeli forces stationed on Talay Ahmar’s eastern and western slopes did not interfere during the reopening, despite having closed the road for more than ten days.
Exhaustion and Water Shortages
The Israeli closure of the main Al‑Asbah–Kodna road caused significant economic loss and service disruptions for residents.
Residents told Enab Baladi that closing the road placed physical strain and financial burden on them: rather than a one-kilometre journey between Al‑Asbah and Kodna, they were forced to travel around ten kilometres, including navigating rough dirt tracks.
Water supply also declined, as the responsible network technician could not reach the pumps.
Muhammad Al‑Fawwaz, the water network technician in Kodna, told Enab Baladi that the road has been reopened to the Al‑Asbah water station, which supplies eight neighbouring communities. However, he still struggles to reach the Ain Zaywan pump station, which serves the town of the same name.
Al‑Fawwaz explained that he now travels approximately seven kilometres to reach the Ain Zaywan station, which requires multiple daily visits. This complicates operations, particularly at night or when switching its energy source between solar and electric power.
Following the collapse of the Assad regime, Israeli forces advanced to Talay Ahmar’s eastern and western slopes, an area rich with drinking-water wells and springs. This advance resulted in decreased water supplies in Kodna and nearby towns in southern Quneitra.
A Lengthy Route
Nasser Abdullah, a resident of Al Asbah in southern Quneitra countryside, told Enab Baladi that Israeli forces had excavated the road from the Kodna side and placed earth mounds and quarry debris on the Al Asbah side.
Abdullah added that the closure has forced him to take a long route of up to ten kilometers to reach the neighboring town of Kodna. He explained that this significantly affects emergency cases, as transporting patients over such distances and rough terrain poses serious risks to their lives.
Costs also increased for Shadi Azzam, another resident of Al Asbah, who said he previously needed only one liter of diesel to reach his farmland. Now, his car consumes around ten liters for the same journey.
While he used to reach his land directly, Azzam now has to travel through the villages of Ain Al Abd and Ain Zaywan, then on to Kodna, before returning to his farmland near Al Asbah.
Due to these difficulties, residents took the risk of reopening the road themselves to reduce costs and avoid the hardships caused by the road closure.
Israel continues its violations in Quneitra countryside through incursions, bulldozing, and the abduction of civilians in border villages adjacent to the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
On June 17, Israeli forces demolished ten homes in Al Hamidiya in the governorate’s countryside after warning the residents to evacuate on the grounds that the houses were located near a newly established military base.
According to Enab Baladi sources, Israeli forces also took full control of the Al Mantara Dam in western Quneitra countryside and installed a checkpoint to prevent locals from accessing the area.
Indefinite Presence
On February 11, Israel’s Army Radio reported that Israel had “quietly” established a security zone inside Syrian territory, confirming that its presence in Syria is no longer temporary.
According to the broadcast, the Israeli army is working to construct nine military sites within this security zone—an indication of Tel Aviv’s intention to expand its military deployment in Syria over the long term.
The station added that the Israeli army plans to remain in Syria throughout 2025 and to increase the number of active brigades to three, up from just one and a half prior to October 7, 2023.
During a visit to the Syrian side of Mount Hermon on January 28, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Israeli forces will remain in Syria “for an indefinite period.”
Quneitra Residents Reopen Vital Road Closed by Israel Enab Baladi.
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