01In brief
Route 999 is a road in the Golan Heights along Israel's northern frontier. It is the northernmost road in the country and meets Route 99 at Junction Shion; Route 98 provides an approach through Majdal Shams. The road has carried civilian and military traffic. Travel accounts describe it as an approach to the Hermon site and the border village of Ghajar. On January 28, 2015, it was the site of a Hezbollah terrorist attack on an IDF convoy that killed two soldiers and wounded seven others.
02Overview
Route 999 is the northernmost road in Israel and meets Route 99 at Junction Shion in the northern Golan Heights.[1] Route 98 passes through Majdal Shams and connects with Route 999, providing an approach from the south.[2] In 2015, the road was open to both civilian and military traffic.[3]
Winter weather can close the route. On January 19, 2022, police closed Route 999 northbound from Shiaon Junction because of low temperatures and snow.[6]
03History
On January 28, 2015, Hezbollah terrorists attacked an IDF convoy traveling on Route 999 approximately one mile from the Lebanese border.[3] The soldiers were traveling in unarmored Isuzu D-Max pickup trucks described as civilian vehicles, and the IDF stated that they were not on an operational mission at the time.[5][7] The convoy was descending from Mount Dov when the attack occurred.[7]
The attackers fired Kornet missiles at the vehicles. The first missile struck a pickup truck, killing Staff Sergeant Dor Chaim Nini and Major Yochai Kalangel.[7] Other soldiers in the convoy left their vehicles and took cover before subsequent missiles were fired; seven soldiers were wounded in total.[5][7] Following the attack, Route 999 was declared a closed military zone.[5]
04Notable Sites
A Ynet travel guide directs drivers north on Route 98, through Majdal Shams, to its connection with Route 999 and then by signs to the Hermon site. The hike described in the guide begins at the upper cable-car station.[2]
A 2005 travel account describes continuing on Route 999 to Tank Junction and turning toward Regar (Ghajar), a border village it described at the time as divided between Lebanon and Israel.[4] A 2021 account of the approach described border-warning signs, security fences, UNIFIL positions, and an Israeli military checkpoint along the way.[8]
The 2005 account reported an Israeli police checkpoint at the village entrance, where visitors were asked to present identification.[4] The 2021 account said outside visitors needed advance coordination and described identity checks by the army and police.[8] These descriptions reflect access arrangements at the respective times of publication and do not establish current entry procedures.
Sources
- 1Gov.il, Hebrew road and geographic guide, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 2Ynet, The Golan Trail: Hiking to the Landscape Behind the War, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 3The Times of Israel, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 4Ynet, Stop, Border Ahead, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 5The Times of Israel, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 6Ynet, Safed and the Northern Mountains Covered in White, Snow Mixed with Rain in Jerusalem, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 7The Times of Israel, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 8Globes, A Day in the Village of Ghajar, Divided Between Israel and Lebanon: Gardens and Human Encounters, accessed on September 26, 2026.
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
What is Route 999 in the Golan Heights?
Route 999 is the northernmost road in Israel, running along the country's northern frontier in the Golan Heights. It meets Route 99 at Junction Shion, and Route 98 connects with it through Majdal Shams, providing an approach from the south. The road has carried both civilian and military traffic and serves as an approach to the Hermon site and the border village of Ghajar.
What happened on Route 999 on January 28, 2015?
On January 28, 2015, Hezbollah terrorists attacked an IDF convoy traveling on Route 999 approximately one mile from the Lebanese border. The soldiers were traveling in unarmored Isuzu D-Max pickup trucks and were not on an operational mission at the time. Attackers fired Kornet missiles at the vehicles, killing Staff Sergeant Dor Chaim Nini and Major Yochai Kalangel and wounding seven other soldiers. Following the attack, Route 999 was declared a closed military zone.
What were the soldiers on the Route 999 convoy doing when they were attacked?
The IDF stated that the soldiers attacked on Route 999 on January 28, 2015 were not on an operational mission at the time. They were traveling in unarmored Isuzu D-Max pickup trucks described as civilian vehicles, and the convoy was descending from Mount Dov when the attack occurred.
What notable destinations can be reached via Route 999?
Route 999 provides access to the Hermon site and the border village of Ghajar. A travel guide directs drivers north on Route 98 through Majdal Shams to its connection with Route 999, then by signs to the Hermon site, with a hike beginning at the upper cable-car station. Continuing on Route 999 to Tank Junction leads toward Ghajar, a border village described as divided between Lebanon and Israel.
What conditions did visitors encounter when approaching Ghajar via Route 999?
A 2021 travel account described border-warning signs, security fences, UNIFIL positions, and an Israeli military checkpoint along the approach to Ghajar on Route 999. Outside visitors needed advance coordination and faced identity checks by both the army and police. An earlier 2005 account reported an Israeli police checkpoint at the village entrance where visitors were asked to present identification.