Amid Israel’s major escalation against Hezbollah in Lebanon, there have been reports of Israeli activity along the borders between the Golan Heights and Syria, specifically in the form of de-mining and expansion of fortifications. More generally of course, there has also been concern about the question of Hezbollah’s presence in the area and potential opening of a war front along the Golan Heights-Syria border.
Although I have previously explained why I believe the talk of a war front along this border region to be overblown, I thought it worthwhile to conduct an interview with a local source on the Syrian side of the Golan border region: specifically, a person whom I have known for many years and who resides in the locality of al-Rafid in al-Qunaytra province. The interview touches on local perceptions about the possibility of a war on this front, information about the general situation in the area including the question of the Hezbollah area, and the killing of Hamas leader Yahya al-Sinwar and perceptions of the war in Gaza. The interview was conducted on the evening of 18 October 2024 and is slightly edited and condensed for clarity. Any parenthetical insertions in square brackets are my own.
Q: Is the security situation in al-Rafid generally good?
A: Generally stable. The security forces are in a state of weakness and fear of the people.
Q: Is there a specific formation responsible for security in the village?
A: The security presence is in al-Rafid, and in al-Qunaytra generally, it is affiliated with Branch 220 of Military Security [military intelligence], known as the Sa‘sa‘ branch. There is a local formation spread about in a number of the villages and affiliated with State Security in the province.
Q: I see. So in al-Rafid there is a formation composed of local fighters affiliated with State Security?
A: Yes, but not only in al-Rafid, but also in most of the villages of the southern part [of the province]. In al-Rafid, only 14 people are under this formation. Around two months ago, a group of people, headed by a person called Hashim al-Tahhan from the locality of Kudina, tried to set up a faction affiliated with the Golan Regiment in al-Rafid and establish bases for it, but the move was met with rejection and a decisive response from the people.
Q: The Golan Regiment affiliated with the National Defence.
A: The Golan Regiment is in reality affiliated with Hezbollah.
Q: But formally with the National Defence.
A: Yes, that is right.
Q: There are a number of reports about the penetration of the Israeli occupation forces into Syrian lands via the occupied Golan’s borders. Have you noticed something along these lines in recent days?
A: Yes, there has been penetration along the borders up to the Alpha line and the raising of dirt barriers along this line and removal of minefields of the UNDOF forces. This distance varies between one area and another, for in some areas it reaches up to 1000 metres and in other areas it does not exceed 10 metres.
Q: Have you noticed any Israeli bombing of Syrian positions in al-Qunaytra in recent days?
A: I will not exaggerate and say daily, but it is there. An hour ago two projectiles fell south of al-Rafid.
Q: Do you [you and the people of al-Rafid] fear the possibility of an Israeli attack on the localities located on the borders between al-Qunaytra province and the occupied Syrian Golan?
A: The people fear a new wave of displacement and not Israeli penetration by itself. I will be frank: most people in southern Syria hope to be rid of the established regime of security rule in Syria, even if this is realised via Israel, but people fear that Israel will forcibly displace them after they handed over most of the weapons they had to the Syrian regime in accordance with the regularisation agreement in 2018. We don’t know what exactly will happen but people are in a state of bewilderment.
Q: There are many rumours about the presence of Hezbollah in the area. But can it be said the matter is exaggerated? Do you expect that Hezbollah will want to open a new front in al-Qunaytra?
A: In truth, we can divide al-Qunaytra into two sections: the north and the south. In the northern section there is a presence for Hezbollah (most of them Syrians under the party), as is the case in the Hadhr area and the case of the Golan Regiment spread in Khan Arnabah and its environs. In the southern section, there is no real presence for it, but rather there are only individuals from among the people of some of the villages, and not known to the general population.
Q: What do people in al-Rafid and the area think about the idea of a Syrian military response to the Israeli strikes? Do they support the idea or prefer for Syria not to enter into the war with Israel?
A: Speaking of a Syrian response is in truth like the one who kills himself. On the ground, the Syrian forces do not have any military capabilities to confront Israel. If that happens and Syria decides to enter into a confrontation with Israel, I say that Israel has the capability of reaching Damascus within hours, unless the people decide to confront Israel, and this is something to be ruled out so long as Israel does not displace the inhabitants as is the case in southern Lebanon. In southern Syria generally, there is no popular support base for Hezbollah or even the ruling regime in Damascus.
I would like to add that a month ago, Israel assassinated a person from the village of Ghadir al-Bustan [in al-Qunaytra] who worked in the village of al-Rafid and was called Khattab Abd al-Mawla al-Khidhr, while he worked on the sesame farm. Drones dropped messages saying: We will fight all who promote military action against Israel, and the axis of evil are your enemies before being our enemies.
Q: Last question. May I ask what are your feelings about the killing of al-Sinwar? Do the people of al-Rafid consider him a martyr?
A: The majority consider him a martyr unlike Hassan Nasrallah, but they give the example of Abu Ubayd al-Thaqafi, who fought the Persons in the Battle of the Bridge during the time of the Caliphate of Omar bin al-Khattab and led his army to perdition. They think that Hamas’ fighters are mujahidin, but they are stupid in their subservience to Iran and their having brought Gaza to perdition.
Q: And also they don’t think it is possible for Hamas to defeat Israel in Gaza?
A: This is reality, not because of Israel’s power, but rather they think that if circumstances require, the West will come down with its forces under the cover of the Israeli army.
Finally, I say, about what victory are we speaking when there are 150,000 people killed and wounded, not to mention those who have not been found under the rubble? This is in Gaza alone, and to God is one to complain.
