Quneitra was founded in the Ottoman era as a way station on the caravan route to Damascus. In 1946, it became part of the independent Syrian Republic within the Riff Dimashq Governorate. On 10 June 1967, the last day of the Six-Day War, it came under Israeli control. It was briefly recaptured by Syria during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, but Israel regained control. The city was almost completely destroyed by Israel before it withdrew in June 1974. Syria later refused to rebuild the city and actively discouraged resettlement in the area.
About Quneitra in brief
Quneitra was founded in the Ottoman era as a way station on the caravan route to Damascus. In 1946, it became part of the independent Syrian Republic within the Riff Dimashq Governorate. On 10 June 1967, the last day of the Six-Day War, it came under Israeli control. It was briefly recaptured by Syria during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, but Israel regained control in its subsequent counter-offensive. The city was almost completely destroyed by Israel before it withdrew in June 1974. Syria later refused to rebuild the city and actively discouraged resettlement in the area. In 2004, its population was estimated at 153 persons, with some 4,000 more living in the surrounding areas of the former city. The surrounding area is dominated by ancient volcanic lava flows interspersed by a number of dormant volcanic cones which rise some 150 to 200 metres above the surrounding plain. The area has been inhabited for millennia and many hunter-gatherers are thought to have lived there. In August 2013, many of the estimated 75,000 internally displaced persons from neighbouring Daraa and Nawa fled to Quneitara. The remains of the city remain abandoned apart from a residual security presence and a residual Syrian government presence. Due to frequent population movements across Syria and post-2011 borders caused by war, there are no reliable estimates of the population. The Syrian Civil War has led to massive displacements and a gradual deterioration of access to basic services. In July, 2018, Syrian Government forces regained control over the city.
As of 2014, it was controlled by the Syrian opposition. Between 2014 and July 2018 Qune itra was de facto controlled by the Southern Front. It is overshadowed to the west by the Israeli-held portion of the Golan Heights and the peak of Har Bental. The name is derived from the small-arches bridge around which the town has been built. Qantara is the Arabic word for arched bridge, and the name means small arch or bridge. In the early 20th century it was dominated by Muslim Circassians from the Caucasus, accompanied by Turkmen and Arabs. By the start of the 20th Century it wasdominated by Muslimcircassians and Arabs, following Syrian independence from France in 1946. In 1964 it became the capital of the split QuneItra Governorate and replaced Madinat al-Baath as the administrative centre of Quneitsa. The region has played a key role as observation points and natural firing positions in the conflicts over the region. The volcanic hills of the region have played a crucial role in the region, most notably in the Yom kippur war. In more peaceful times, the fertile volcanic soil has supported agricultural activities such as wheat growing and pastoralism. It has been the destination for many internally displaced people from neighbouring Rififa and Rifara governorates. The population of the area is estimated to be around 75,00, with many more internally displaced from the neighbouring Nawa and Al-Harra governorates in August 2013.
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This page is based on the article Quneitra published in Wikipedia (as of Nov. 07, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
