Syria Investigates Alleged Israeli Chemical Spraying in Quneitra Amidst Escalating Border Tensions
Quneitra, Syria – Syrian authorities have launched an urgent investigation into the alleged spraying of unknown chemical substances by an Israeli agricultural aircraft over farmlands in the southern Quneitra countryside. This incident, reported by Syrian media, has raised significant environmental and political concerns, particularly given its proximity to the occupied Golan Heights and a recent uptick in cross-border military activities.
Unidentified Spraying Incident Triggers Investigation
According to Syrian media reports, including RT Arabic, the Quneitra Agriculture and Environment Departments have commenced sampling plants in areas targeted by the alleged spraying. The incident reportedly occurred on January 24 and 25, 2026, when an Israeli agricultural aircraft was observed flying at low altitudes over agricultural lands near the buffer zone with the occupied Golan. Witnesses reported the aircraft dispersing unidentified materials, prompting immediate fears among local communities about potential toxicity and adverse effects on the region’s vegetation and pastures.
Broader Context of Cross-Border Activity
This latest event follows closely on the heels of an Israeli artillery shelling of the same area just two days prior, on January 22. Syrian officials and local farmers have consistently highlighted a pattern of Israeli military actions in the Quneitra countryside and along the Syrian-Israeli border over recent years. These actions reportedly include air strikes, reconnaissance flights, and what are described as “agricultural flights,” which local sources claim have targeted infrastructure and agricultural lands.
Impact on Livelihoods and Regional Stability
Syrian authorities and farmers assert that such cross-border activities have caused direct damage to farmlands, severely impacting the livelihoods of residents and exacerbating tensions along the border. The region, a historically sensitive area since the 1973 war and subsequent buffer zone agreements, particularly around the occupied Golan and Quneitra, remains a focal point of ongoing security challenges. These developments continuously affect the agricultural sector and daily lives of local inhabitants, underscoring the delicate balance of stability in the volatile border region.
