'Israel' raids 2 towns in Quneitra, southern Syria
2 Min Read
Israeli occupation forces continue to violate Syrian territory and expand the entity's occupation of Syrian soil.
-
Israeli military armored vehicles block a road leading to the town of Quneitra, Syria, Sunday, Jan 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Israeli occupation forces launched a series of new incursions into southern Syria early Wednesday, pushing into the towns of al-Khashab and Ofaniya in the northern countryside of Quneitra. According to Syria's state-run Ikhbariya TV, the raids were supported by armored vehicles and aerial surveillance, with drones flying at low altitudes.
Upon entry, Israeli troops conducted search operations and established elevated positions on the rooftops of residential buildings.
Just days prior, on Sunday, similar Israeli advances were reported in the western countryside of Daraa. Local sources confirmed that Israeli forces entered the villages of Saisoun and Sarya Jumla, dividing their convoy into two tactical units. 12 military vehicles were stationed in the center of Saisoun, while another six secured the perimeter of Sarya Jumla near the valley’s edge.
These coordinated movements reflect a broader pattern of Israeli occupation of southern Syria, with Israeli troops not only expanding their ground presence but also engaging in search operations within civilian areas.
Syrian authorities have continuously condemned such actions as illegal and destabilizing, particularly in light of recent escalations across Quneitra, Beit Jin, and the Damascus countryside.
Deepening military presence
The Israeli military has entrenched itself in several strategic locations throughout Quneitra, including Ain al-Baidah, Ofaniya, and al-Asha. Operations have included strikes, checkpoint installations, detaining civilians, and even troop airdrops.
On July 6, Israeli forces were reported to have erected seven-meter-high earthen fortifications in Breika and Beer Ajam. And on July 4, a special airborne unit had landed in Yaafour near Damascus, demonstrating an expanding tactical footprint.
The new regime's Foreign Ministry has repeatedly called on the international community to intervene, stressing that such incursions constitute a blatant breach of international law and the 1974 disengagement agreement. The ministry labeled the strikes and ground invasions as direct threats to Syria's national sovereignty and regional stability.
As "Israel" continues to fortify its presence in southern Syria through calculated military operations and territorial occupation, the new Syrian regime remains engaged in dialogue with Israeli and US officials in pursuit of a comprehensive security agreement, though these efforts have yielded little progress to date.
