Israeli forces advance in Quneitra countryside, shell Yarmouk Basin
3 Min Read
Israeli forces escalate attacks near Syria's Quneitra and Daraa, as reported by the Syrian Observatory, raising tensions along the border.
-
Israeli army armored vehicles block a road leading to the town of Quneitra, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 (AP)
Israeli forces have maintained active military movements along the Syrian border, with several incursions and shellings reported in recent days, raising tensions among local communities.
An Israeli force consisting of three SUVs entered the villages of Saisoun and al-Masritiya in the western Daraa countryside.
The invading troops conducted searches in open agricultural lands in the area before withdrawing.
Moreover, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that an Israeli patrol entered the vicinity of Kodneh village in central Quneitra this Thursday morning. The patrol reportedly moved around the area for some time before withdrawing.
Late Wednesday night, an Israeli tank fired two shells from the occupied territories toward the areas surrounding Abidin and Kuya villages in the Yarmouk Basin region of western Daraa. No casualties or property damage were reported.
Yesterday, the Observatory also documented multiple artillery shells landing near Eastern Tal al-Ahmar in central Quneitra, reportedly fired from Israeli positions, which caused panic among residents, though no injuries or damage were confirmed.
Three days earlier, Israeli forces conducted an operation inside western Daraa, encircling the western neighborhood of Ma’riya village in the Yarmouk Basin and carrying out a search campaign in the area, according to the Observatory.
'Israel' takes free reign on Syria after al-Assad's fall
Since the collapse of the old regime in December 2024, Israeli forces have repeatedly breached Syrian sovereignty by advancing into areas of Quneitra and the demilitarized zone adjacent to the occupied Golan Heights.
Reports note dozens of ground incursions and the establishment of temporary checkpoints where civilians are subject to identity checks, vehicle inspections, and arbitrary detentions.
Beyond the surface incursions, human rights organizations report systemic abuses in areas under occupation or heavy Israeli military presence.
Displacement, home demolitions, denied access to property
According to various rights groups, Israeli forces have engaged in forced displacement of Syrian villagers, demolition of homes, denial of access to property and livelihoods, as well as arbitrary detention and forced transfer of civilians into "Israel", acts that constitute war crimes under international law. These actions appear particularly pronounced in the buffer zone south of the Golan Heights, where the local population lives under sustained pressure and in a context of effective impunity.
The aerial dimension of the violations is also substantial. Since the regime’s fall, Israeli airstrikes have targeted Syrian military infrastructure, arms depots, and key installations, thereby undermining the country’s defensive capability and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Syrian authorities have repeatedly condemned these attacks, calling them coordinated efforts to destabilize the region.
The UN-mandated peacekeeping force operating in the area has warned that Israeli military activity within the area of separation risks escalating tensions and endangering civilians. Despite these warnings, the violations have continued, raising concerns over the lack of international accountability and the long-term implications for regional stability.
