Secret Deal Cedes South Syria Control to Israel, SOHR

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has alleged the existence of a significant, unannounced agreement between the Syrian and Israeli governments, purportedly reached in France, that restricts Syrian military movement and effectively allows Israel to operate freely in the skies over southern Syria.

The claim was made by Rami Abdul Rahman, the director of the UK-based war monitor. According to Abdul Rahman, the secret understandings were reached during a four-hour meeting between the Syrian Foreign Minister and an Israeli minister in France.

"What was discussed in it? What did they agree upon, other than the points published by the Syrian Observatory, which prohibit Syrian military movement in southern Syria and the areas south of Damascus?" Abdul Rahman stated. He asserted that as a result of this deal, "Israel roams freely in the skies of southern Syria, and any movement by fighters, whether they are military or auxiliary forces, is targeted by Israel."

The SOHR director further claimed that the agreement has tangible territorial consequences.

"This is part of the unannounced agreement that prevents the entry of military forces into either western or northern Sweida," he said. He described a geographical area inside Syrian territory, larger than the occupied Syrian Golan, that he alleges has been occupied by Israel since Dec. 7 of last year with "daily movements taking place there without any official objection from the Damascus government."

According to the information from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Damascus government is deliberately keeping the agreement secret.

Abdul Rahman stated, "There are understandings regarding Sweida that the Damascus government does not want to announce, because it considers it a disgrace to agree with Israel on something concerning Syrian territory."

The claims are attributed entirely to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.