Qers al-Nafl
{{Short description|Hill in Quneitra, Syria}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Qers al-Nafl
| other_name = قرص النفل
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| location = Quneitra Governorate, Syria
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Qers al-Nafl ({{langx|ar|قرص النفل}}) is a hill located in the northern part of Quneitra Governorate in southern Syria. The hill overlooks the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and serves as an observation and military point in the region.
Strategic importance
Qers al-Nafl's location offers direct views of Majdal Shams and Israeli supply lines toward the Lebanese border.{{cite web |url=https://www.alanba.com.kw/1288225 |title=سكان جنوب سورية وجهاً لوجه مع قوات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي |trans-title=Southern Syria residents face-to-face with Israeli occupation forces |date=23 December 2024 |website=Al-Anba |lang=ar |access-date=26 January 2025}} Due to its elevation and vantage point, it is considered a key position for monitoring and controlling movements in southern Syria and northern Israel.
History
= Syrian civil war =
The hill witnessed military activity during the Syrian civil war when it had a Hezbollah presence. In April 2023, Israeli forces shelled positions held by Syrian government forces and allied militias, including Hezbollah, using heavy artillery. The strikes targeted observation points used by Iranian-backed forces for reconnaissance in the southern Syrian region.{{cite web |url=https://www.syria.tv/إسرائيل-تقصف-مواقع-للنظام-وإيران-في-ريف-القنيطرة-بالمدفعية-الثقيلة |title=إسرائيل تقصف مواقع للنظام وإيران في ريف القنيطرة بالمدفعية الثقيلة |trans-title=Israel shells regime and Iranian sites in Quneitra countryside with heavy artillery |lang=ar |date=24 April 2023 |website=Syria TV |access-date=26 January 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.enabbaladi.net/639240/إسرائيل-تقصف-مواقع-في-القنيطرة-للمرة-ا/# |title=إسرائيل تقصف مواقع في القنيطرة للمرة الثانية في أسبوع |trans-title=Israel shells sites in Quneitra for the second time in a week |lang=ar |date=24 April 2023 |website=Enab Baladi |access-date=26 January 2025}}
After the fall of the Assad regime, Israeli forces invaded bordering Syrian territory and carried out extensive land clearing and road construction on and around Qers al-Nafl. These activities included creating military routes that connect northern Quneitra villages with the slopes of Mount Hermon near Beit Jinn, located in southwestern Rif Dimashq Governorate. The Israeli forces have also established military positions on the hill, including surveillance cameras and fortifications.{{cite web |url=https://www.maannews.net/news/2131047.html |title=الاحتلال الإسرائيلي يثبت نقاطا عسكرية في تلة قرص النفل الاستراتيجية شمال القنيطرة |trans-title=Israeli occupation establishes military posts on the strategic Tal Qurs Al-Nafl hill north of Quneitra |lang=ar |date=21 December 2024 |website=Ma'an News Agency |access-date=26 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241221153122/https://www.maannews.net/news/2131047.html |archive-date=21 December 2024 |url-status=live}}
See also
References
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