Al Qunaytirah

Al Qunaytirah is a city of southwestern Syria that is now largely abandoned. It lies in the UN-monitored demilitarized zone between Syria and Israel. The city was a commercial and cultural hub for southwestern Syria until the Six-Day War, when Israel captured it. The city was placed back under Syria's control for a short while in the Yom Kippur War, but Israel recaptured it. The Israelis withdrew from the city in 1974. Syria claims that Israel deliberately destroyed the city, and systematically stripped it of its usefullness. Israel claims that the city was destroyed in the fighting from both sides. Syria chose not to resettle the city and leave it as a testament to "Israeli brutality."

Since 2005, Syria has pledged to reconstruct the city. It has started construction projects which include a multi-million dollar hospital and new highway from Damascus to Al Qunaytirah.

Governorate

Al Qunaytirah is also the name of a governorate of southwestern Syria that includes the Israeli administered Golan Heights.