World Tribune.com

Strategy seen in Syria's reservoir in Golan Heights

By Steve Rodan
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, January 7, 2000

Syria is building a huge reservoir on the Golan Heights in what is expected to be the first of several projects to capture water that feeds Israel's Sea of Galilee.

Military sources said the reservoir is meant to also serve as an obstacle to any Israeli ground offensive against Syria in the Golan Heights.

The sources said the reservoir is four kilometers wide and is being constructed near the town of Kuneitra, once the capital of the Golan Heights. The area is flat and located on a major armored offensive route between Israel and Syria.

"We are talking about a huge reservoir for the Golan with strategic implications," a source said.

The Syrian construction comes as Israel and Damascus discuss water rights issues at the current negotiations in Sheperdstown, West Va. Syria has claimed water rights to the Sea of Galilee.

So far, the sources said, the reservoir is not expected to be fed by tributaries that flow directly into Israel. But one source said the reservoir is expected to be followed by other projects meant to stem the flow of water from the Golan Heights to the Sea of Galilee, regarded as Israel's only source of fresh water.

"There is no question that this is the first of several projects," the source said. "The idea is to capture as much water as possible within Syria before it enters Israeli territory."

Syria and Jordan are constructing the Al Wihdat dam that will feed off the Yarmouk River, shared by Israel. Israeli officials said the Jordanians are coordinating their part of the project with Israel.

Military sources said the Syrian reservoir project near Kuneitra is significant for the defense of the Golan Heights. They said the reservoir is designed to serve as a major obstacle to any Israeli counter offensive on the Golan.

Moreover, the sources said, the reservoir could be emptied, flooding the surrounding area, further slowing down Israeli troops. Already, the sources said, Syria is bolstering its units around the Golan Heights with new electronic equipment and is quietly dismantling Israeli mines placed in the area.

Friday, January 7, 2000

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