Description

Golan Heights

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Context:

Israel agreed to double its population on the occupied Golan Heights while saying threats from Syria remained despite the moderate tone of rebel fighters who ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

About Golan Heights

Geography	A hilly area overlooking the upper Jordan River Valley to the west.
Location	Bordered by the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee to the west, Mount Hermon to the north, the seasonal Wadi Al Ruqqād River to the east, and the Yarmūk River to the south.
Name Origin	Named after the biblical refuge Golan in Bashan.
Background	The area was part of southwestern Syria until 1967 when Israel occupied it during the Six-Day War. The Syrian Arab population fled during the conflict. Syria's attempt to recapture it in the 1973 Middle East War was unsuccessful. A 1974 armistice was signed, and a UN observer force has operated on the armistice line since then. Israel unilaterally annexed the area in 1981, a move considered illegal under international law.
Population	Home to 20000 Israeli settlers in over 30 settlements, considered illegal under international law. Also, inhabited by 20000 Syrians, mostly Druze Arabs, who remained after the Israeli occupation.
Strategic Importance	It overlooks Israel's northern Galilee region, the Sea of Galilee, and the road to Damascus on the Syrian side. It borders Jordan and Lebanon. It is a key water source, with rainwater from the Golan Basin feeding into the Jordan River.
Legal Status	Considered occupied territory under international law and UN Security Council resolutions, though Israel disputes this.

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Golan Heights

Source:

TOI

Kerch strait

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Context:

A Russian oil tanker carrying thousands of tonnes of oil products split apart during a heavy storm spilling oil into the Kerch Strait.

About Kerch Strait

Location	Located in Eastern Europe, it is the only body of water that connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov.
Historical Names	Known as the Cimmerian Bosporus by the Romans and the Cimmerian Strait in Greek.
Geography	Separates the Kerch Peninsula (part of the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula) to the west from the Taman Peninsula (Russia) to the east.
Dimensions	About 3 km long, 15 km wide, and 18 meters deep. At its narrowest point, near the northern end of the Chushka Landspit, it is only 3 to 5 km wide.
City	The city of Kerch is located near the middle of the strait on the Crimean side.
Significance	An important global shipping route that provides passage from the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.
Conflict	A key point of conflict between Russia and Ukraine since Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
Bridge over the Kerch Strait	Known as the Crimean Bridge, it connects mainland Russia with Crimea. Completed in 2018, it includes road and rail links and is the longest bridge in Europe at 19 km. It is a symbol of Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Source:

NDTV

Morocco

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Context:

Morocco is emerging as a springboard for India’s ambitions to expand its footprint in Africa for defence exports.

About Morocco:

Location	Situated in North Africa, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Borders	Shares land borders with Algeria to the east and southeast, and the disputed Western Sahara to the south.
Coastline	Has a coastline of over 1,800 km along the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Mountain Ranges	Atlas Mountains: Extend across central and southern Morocco, including the High Atlas, Middle Atlas, and Anti-Atlas ranges. Rif Mountains: Located in the north along the Mediterranean coast.
Deserts	The southern region is part of the Sahara Desert, characterized by arid and semi-arid conditions.
Plains and Plateaus	Features fertile plains like the Saiss Plain near Fez and plateaus such as the Tadla Plateau.
Rivers	Major rivers include the Sebou, Oum Er-Rbia, Moulouya, and Draa, vital for agriculture and water supply.
Climate	Varies from Mediterranean along the coast to semi-arid and desert climates inland.
Islands	Includes small offshore islands like the Îles Purpuraires and disputed territories like Ceuta and Melilla (under Spanish control).
Geographical Position	Located at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, with the Strait of Gibraltar connecting the Mediterranean to the Atlantic.