The Syrian Resistance has claimed responsibility for the targeting of Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) troops in the buffer zone last night, according to Lebanon's Al-Akhbar Newspaper. The group announced it “has begun its operations against the Israeli enemy alongside operations against al-Jolani’s terrorist gangs,” using the nom de guerre of new Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.

An Israeli Army Radio correspondent said last night, "Armed men opened fire on an Israeli force in the Quneitra countryside," noting that "this is the first time that fire has been directed at our forces after two months of roaming freely in Syria."

According to al-Akhbar, the group vowed to confront the Israeli occupation by targeting Israeli forces and al-Jolani's armed men with ambushes and surprise attacks.

The Israeli occupation forces stated last night that soldiers returned fire at the source of the shooting and reported no injuries.

This marked the first incident involving Israeli forces since they deployed to the buffer zone on the "Israel"-Syria border following the fall of the Assad regime last month. Army Radio noted that "it is too early to know whether this is the beginning of armed resistance against the activities of the Israeli army in Syria," adding that, "this incident must be very disturbing."

'Israel' deploys additional forces, armored patrols in Syria: Sources

Local sources told Al Mayadeen earlier this month that the Israeli occupation deployed reinforcements in the al-Jazeera barracks in the village of Maariya, in the Daraa countryside, near the Syrian-Jordanian border, erected high concrete barriers and paved all roads leading to the barracks.

Moreover, the source stated that for the first time, the Israeli occupation army is deploying armored patrols on the hills of the recently occupied areas of Mount Hermon, overlooking the territories in the Nabatieh region of Lebanon.

This comes after Israeli media reported that the Israeli military is preparing for an extended presence in Syria.

According to Walla, "Despite pressure from European parties on Israel, political leaders have instructed the Israeli army to brace for a prolonged stay in Syrian territory."