Quneitra

Quneitra is a city in southwestern Syria, near the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. It serves as the administrative center of the Quneitra Governorate and sits at the edge of the Golan frontier.

Historically part of the Hauran region, Quneitra developed as a local center before the modern era. In the 1967 Six-Day War, the city was captured by Israel and the old town was largely destroyed, with many residents displaced. After the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Israel and Syria, Syria regained control of the area, while the ruins of the old city were left as a memorial. A new town of Quneitra was built to the east to house residents and serve as the administrative center.

During the Syrian Civil War that began in 2011, control of the surrounding area changed hands multiple times. By the late 2010s, government forces had largely reestablished control over Quneitra and the bordering region. The border crossing with Israel near Quneitra has been intermittently opened and closed, reflecting broader security conditions. Israeli airstrikes have targeted activity near the border in response to movements by Iranian-backed and allied forces.

Demographically, the city’s population was significantly reduced by displacement and conflict, with the governorate comprising rural towns and border areas. Quneitra remains closely linked to the Golan border and to Syria’s broader security and political dynamics in the region.