Still no peace in Middle East defence analysis

THE Middle East and the Golan Heights returned to international focus with two significant events this week.

On Tuesday for the first time since 2014 the Israel Defence Force allegedly shot down a Syrian Air Force fighter jet.

As is usual in such circumstances, both sides offered differing versions of events.

Israel claimed it launched two defensive missiles after the jet violated its air space.

Syria claimed the jet was engaging ISIS rebels on its side of the border in the vicious civil war which has been raging in southwestern Syria.

The incident followed the evacuation last weekend of more than 400 White Helmets, who claim to be humanitarian volunteers but whom Syria insists are allied to the rebels and a proxy for Israel.

The evacuation was a joint collaboration of Britain, Germany, Canada, the US, Israel, Jordan and the UN.

Such international co- operation is virtually unprecedented in a region where war is an almost constant state.

It was an even more remarkable achievement given the area between Daraa and Quneitra on the Golan Heights now appears to be occupied by the rebels affiliated with ISIS.

The Syrian regime supported by its major international ally Russia has been attempting to regain control of the region. Daraa is no stranger to conflict. Legendary British officer TE Lawrence was in Daraa the night Damascus surrendered in 1918.

Quneitra, formerly capital of the province which shared the name was occupied by Israel in 1967 but recaptured by Syria in 1973. Between those years Syria and Israel regularly traded hostilities in what was termed locally the War of Attrition.

The city was almost totally destroyed during the fighting and has not been rebuilt, its deserted ruins in the middle of the area of separation which divides Israel and Syria a grim reminder of costs and passions of this continuing conflict.

In 1974 following the 1973 Arab- Israeli War an armistice of sorts between the two foes was brokered by the UN, establishing was has effectively been a disarmed buffer zone.

Unarmed UN military observers including Australians who had reported on the war participated in the negotiations.

They continue to monitor the agreement though Syria’s current civil war has created a difficult and dangerous operational environment for the UN.

The UN has always had freed movement across the AOS, wi ments of the UN Disengagemen server Force based of both sides.

The UN also maintains obse posts along the AOS from which o ers attempt to provide real time rep violations of the agreement.

The current Syrian hostilities w restricted the ability for UN fo move freely about the Golan and fore their ability to provide indep reports on the situation.

Syria’s preoccupation with its c limit its ability to retaliate for the its aircraft.

However the incident will pro welcome internal political dist with the opportunity to accuse Isr again of violating its territorial bor

In the Middle East some thing change.