"Playground of Terror Organizations": Special Journey Along the Tense Syrian Golan Sector

Two years after the start of works, nearly 80% of the digging of the 'New East' trenches on the Israel-Syria border has been completed. The 474th Brigade holds nine outposts deep in the territory and patrols Syrian villages. A senior officer in the Northern Command explains that defense is no longer defined by the enemy's identity but by its capabilities, and that the area is a 'playground' for terror organizations. At the end of June, a confrontation occurred in the village of Abbadin.

Two years after the start of works on the 'New East' project, aimed at fortifying the Israel-Syria border with trenches four meters high and wide and earth embankments, the IDF updates that nearly 80% of the trench digging has been completed, from the Majdal Shams area to the border triangle in the south of the sector. The works were delayed due to the use of engineering tools also in the Lebanon sector. The 474th Brigade, responsible for routine security, holds nine outposts deep in the territory and patrols Syrian villages. A senior officer in the Northern Command explains that defense is no longer defined by the enemy's identity but by its capabilities: "The only question before our eyes is what the enemy's capabilities are and what it is able to do." He calls the area "a playground of terror organizations, armed groups, and militias." At the end of June, a confrontation occurred in the village of Abbadin in the western Daraa district, when locals threw stones and then live fire was opened; the forces returned fire, and mortars and an attack helicopter were used. The incident ended without casualties, but items were left in the field, including a classified military cellphone that was remotely disabled.