IOF infiltrate Syria’s Quneitra, establish temporary checkpoint
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Israeli occupation forces briefly crossed into Syria’s Quneitra, setting up a checkpoint before retreating, in violation of the 1974 disengagement accord.
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Israeli military armored vehicles block a road leading to the town of Quneitra, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 (AP)
An Israeli military unit, consisting of two armored vehicles, crossed into Syrian territory on Tuesday, advancing into the village of Bariqa in southwestern Quneitra, located within the UN-monitored disengagement zone in the occupied Golan Heights, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
According to the Observatory, the Israeli forces established a temporary inspection point on the outskirts of the village before pulling back. No arrests or gunfire were reported during the incursion.
The Observatory described the action as another violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Syria and "Israel", noting the absence of any official response from Syrian government forces.
It called on the United Nations and the international monitoring forces stationed in the Golan Heights to uphold their responsibilities in documenting and preventing further Israeli breaches.
Separately, Israeli forces detained a young man briefly after stopping a civilian bus en route to Jabata al-Khashab in northern Quneitra, also inside the disengagement zone. The troops reportedly checked passengers’ IDs before releasing the man without charge.
Israeli forces carry out new incursion in Syria’s Quneitra
Local sources in Quneitra, southern Syria, reported that an Israeli occupation patrol carried out a new incursion on Sunday toward the town of Sayda al-Hanout in the southern countryside of the province.
The Israeli occupation has repeatedly launched incursions and attacks across the southern border area, intensifying its military presence near Syrian towns and villages.
Just days ago, Syrian media reported a similar incident in the village of Ofaniya in northern Quneitra, where an Israeli patrol reportedly raided two homes.
Witnesses also said that occupation forces frequently erect checkpoints and detain people during their advances in the southern Syrian countryside, heightening tension and fear among local residents.
Israeli forces raid Quneitra towns in southern Syria
Syrian media outlets reported last Wednesday that an Israeli patrol infiltrated the village of Ofaniya in the northern countryside of Quneitra, raiding two civilian homes before withdrawing. Another Israeli unit, composed of eight military vehicles, including a heavy bulldozer and two tanks, advanced toward the town of al-Samadaniyah al-Sharqiya, where it remained stationed for several hours around Tal Kroom Jaba before retreating.
Last Tuesday, Israeli occupation forces erected a military checkpoint at the first Ofaniya junction near the al-Hurriyah intersection, stopping and inspecting vehicles and detaining passersby before withdrawing to al-Hurriyah village.
Since December 8, 2024, Israeli occupation forces have repeatedly conducted ground and aerial aggression inside Syrian territory, targeting infrastructure, ammunition depots, and positions of the Syrian Army. The Syrian government has denounced "Israel" for systematically expanding its occupation of areas in the Golan Heights and carrying out destructive military campaigns in Quneitra, Daraa, and the Damascus countryside.
Damascus has condemned these attacks as a “flagrant violation of Syrian sovereignty and international law,” urging the United Nations and the international community to take immediate action to stop Israeli aggression and hold Tel Aviv accountable for its repeated violations.
