A Small Area with Massive Strategic Importance

Golan Heights: A Small Area with Massive Strategic Importance

The Golan Heights is a rocky plateau in southwestern Syria, overlooking the Jordan River Valley to the west.

Covering an area of approximately 1,150 sq km, it borders the Jordan River and Sea of Galilee to the west, Mount Hermon to the north, the Yarmouk River to the south and Wadi al-Ruqqād to the east.

Despite its small size, the Golan Heights has played a central role in regional politics and conflicts for decades due to its strategic location and resources.

Before 1967, Syria controlled the Golan Heights and heavily fortified it. The elevated terrain provided a commanding view of northern Israel, allowing Syrian forces to shell Israeli communities, disrupting agriculture, fishing and daily life.

Damascus, the Syrian capital, is only 60 km away and is visible from the plateau, highlighting its military significance.

For Israel, the Golan Heights is more than a strategic plateau, it is vital for security and control over key freshwater resources. The region also holds historical significance for the Jewish people, particularly the Tribe of Manasseh.

In 1894, Baron Edmond de Rothschild purchased land in the Golan for Jewish settlement, though Ottoman land laws and local resistance limited development. After World War I, the area became part of French-mandate Syria.

For Syria, the Golan Heights remains a symbol of national pride and sovereignty. Its high elevation provides a military advantage and a clear vantage point over northern Israel.

The region is also crucial for Syria’s water supply, with rivers such as the Yarmouk and Hasbani feeding the country’s water system. Fertile land supports agriculture and livestock, contributing to the local economy.

Losing the Golan Heights has long represented a loss of both strategic and economic resources, making it central to Syria’s territorial integrity.

During the 6 Day War on June 9–10, 1967, Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria. After defeating Egypt and Jordan, Israeli forces turned their focus to the Golan, aiming to secure a strategic advantage.

The Israeli Air Force neutralised Syrian defense positions, enabling ground troops to advance rapidly. Syrian defenders, outnumbered and unprepared, were overwhelmed, prompting many local residents, including Druze Arabs, to flee. The fighting ended on June 10 with a ceasefire, and Israel established ongoing military control over the territory.

In October 1973, Syria launched a surprise attack on the Golan Heights during Yom Kippur, seeking to reclaim the territory lost in 1967.

Syrian forces initially made significant gains, pushing Israeli troops back in some areas. However, after weeks of intense fighting and heavy casualties on both sides, Israel managed to hold most of the Golan Heights. A ceasefire was brokered, and in 1974, Syria and Israel signed an armistice agreement.

This agreement created a demilitarised zone monitored by the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, which remains in place today, although tensions persist.

Following the collapse of Assad’s regime, Israel has reportedly taken control of parts of the Syrian side of the buffer zone.

Prime Minister Netanyahu described this as a temporary defensive measure due to the breakdown of the 1974 disengagement agreement amid Syria’s rapid political changes.

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