IOF raid Syria's al-Qahtaniyah as clashes erupt in Talkalakh, Barouha
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Israeli occupation forces stormed al-Qahtaniyah in Syria’s Quneitra region, while armed groups launched deadly attacks in Talkalakh and Barouha.
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Israeli army armored vehicles block a road leading to the town of Quneitra, Syria, Jan. 5, 2025 (AP, File)
Israeli occupation forces conducted an incursion into the village of al-Qahtaniyah in Syria’s Quneitra countryside on Wednesday, according to Syria TV.
The operation adds to rising instability across western Syria, where multiple armed confrontations have erupted in recent days.
During the raid, Israeli troops reportedly spread out between homes and along village streets, firing warning shots into the air. Using loudspeakers, they ordered residents to stay indoors and avoid movement, the outlet said.
Read more: IOF launch multiple attacks in southern Syria, incursion into al-Rafid
Israeli journalists cross into Syrian territory
Meanwhile, Israeli media revealed that a group of Channel 12 journalists had entered Syrian territory to report from the field. The journalists were identified as Keren Marciano, Guy Varon, Adar Gitsis, Nitzan Shapira, Ohad Hemo, Menachem Horowitz, and Avi Weiss.
Militias attack security forces over smuggling dispute in Talkalakh
In Talkalakh, western Homs, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported a return to relative calm after a violent night of armed clashes. Local armed groups led by Abu Alamin al-Hazouri, Hussein al-Nuaimi, and Jassem al-Masri attacked Syrian security forces, leaving four General Security personnel dead or wounded.
The assault reportedly stemmed from a dispute involving attempts by local militias to smuggle former regime officers into Lebanon in exchange for money. The operation was intercepted by security forces, sparking the deadly confrontation.
Gunmen raid al-Qumeiri village
In a separate attack, armed men stormed homes in the village of al-Qumeiri, also in the Talkalakh countryside, shortly after midnight. The assailants fired shots and threw hand grenades into residential areas, causing panic among civilians. No casualties were reported, but residents appealed for immediate intervention from General Security.
Barouha village attack leaves three civilians killed
Three civilians from the Alawite community in the village of Barouha were killed during a raid by local armed groups. The attackers targeted civilian homes, further inflaming tensions in the already volatile Talkalakh region.
In response to the escalating violence, General Security has deployed reinforcements to al-Qusayr in southern Homs. Mobile patrols and checkpoints have been established across key neighborhoods to restore order and pursue those responsible for the attacks.
Read more: Numerous parties seeking to destabilize region: Syrian FM
