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Places in News: Golan Heights
Context:
A deadly rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights has heightened concerns that Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah might enter a full-scale war.
About Golan Heights:
- Location: It is a strategic rocky plateau located in the southwestern part of Syria.
- It is bordered by the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee to the west, Mount Hermon to the north, the seasonal Wadi Al-Ruqqād to the east, and the Yarmūk River to the south.
- It offers a commanding view of southern Syria and northern Israel.
- The region also serves as a crucial water source, with rainwater feeding into the Jordan River, and supports agriculture due to its fertile volcanic soil.
- The highest point reaches 7,297 feet (2,224 metres) on the slopes of Mount Hermon.
- Climate: It has a Mediterranean, hot summer climate.
- History: It was part of Syria until 1967, when Israel captured most of the area during the Six-Day War, occupying and annexing it in 1981.
- This annexation has not been internationally recognised, and Syria continues to demand the return of the territory.