Israeli forces have raised an Israeli flag in the symbolic central roundabout of Quneitra, a key city in southern Syria. Video footage circulating online shows Israeli soldiers hoisting the flag at what is known as the "Flag Roundabout," reportedly accompanied by chants, deepening tensions as Syria's transitional government attempts to negotiate a security agreement with Tel Aviv.
According to a report by Enab Baladi, a local Syrian official confirmed the event. Mohammed al-Saeed, the director of media at the Quneitra Governorate, verified that the video was recent and that the Israeli flag was indeed raised at the roundabout. He explained that the Israeli army seized control of the location, which lies near the border with the occupied Golan Heights, immediately after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government on December 8, 2024, and has since closed it off.
The act is laden with historical symbolism. The location, formerly known as "Assad Square," is the very site where former president Hafez al-Assad raised the Syrian flag in 1974 after the city was returned to Syrian control following the Yom Kippur War. The raising of the Israeli flag there is seen by many Syrians as a direct and provocative reversal of a significant moment in their modern history. This incident is the latest in a series of Israeli military incursions into the region, which have included troop deployments, sweeping operations, and the establishment of military posts across the Quneitra countryside.This military assertiveness on the ground stands in stark contrast to delicate diplomatic efforts underway. Syrian Transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa recently warned that the region faces a new wave of instability unless a security deal is reached to preserve Syria's sovereignty. Speaking in New York, al-Sharaa urged Israel to stop exploiting Syria's "moment of weakness" and commit to serious negotiations. "We have intensified our diplomatic efforts for dialogue with Israel. We are not the troublemakers. We fear Israel, not the other way around," he stated, linking any agreement to a halt in Israeli ground and air violations.
Talks between the two nations, aimed at securing a withdrawal of Israeli forces and an end to airstrikes, are reportedly progressing. U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, Thomas Brack, indicated that both sides are close to a preliminary "de-escalation agreement." Under its terms, Israel would halt its attacks in exchange for Syria agreeing not to move heavy military equipment near the border. However, repeated Israeli ground operations, such as recent raids and searches of civilian homes in the town of Saida al-Golan, continue to undermine trust and threaten to derail the fragile path toward stability.
Photo: The source