Israeli forces raid Al-Halabi village in Quneitra countryside, Syria
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Israeli occupation forces have intensified their invasion of Syria's Quneitra countryside, seizing land, deploying troops near key villages, and escalating violations under the guise of security operations.
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Israeli tanks are seen at Al Hamadyeh region near the occupied Golan Heights in Quneitra, Syria on January 16. (Anadolu)
Israeli occupation forces launched a new ground incursion on Wednesday morning into the central countryside of Quneitra, targeting the village of al-Halabi.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, troops advanced toward the village, set up a temporary checkpoint on the main road, and deployed around a former Syrian military site in the area, an extension of "Israel's" aggressive military posture in southern Syria.
This operation comes amid a broader pattern of Israeli expansion and provocation in the Quneitra region.
Over the past weeks, Israeli forces have conducted a series of incursions into villages such as al-Rafid, Ain Zaywan, and al-Hamidiyah, often accompanied by armored vehicles, demolitions, and the destruction of local infrastructure.
The occupation has also reportedly confiscated over 6,000 hectares of land and deliberately set fire to agricultural zones near al-Rafid, in direct violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement.
On July 21, an Israeli military patrol breached Syrian territory near al-Rafid, with three 4x4 vehicles entering from the village of al-Asha. These movements stirred concern across the region, particularly as no official Syrian response has yet been issued.
Meanwhile, local sources in the Damascus countryside confirmed that Israeli reinforcements were deployed to the Mazari' area, just 15 kilometers from the capital.
The troops established fortified positions within the Qalaat Jandal–Issem–Qasim triangle and set up a new checkpoint on the northern outskirts of Qatana, equipped with tanks and armored vehicles.
Strategic Encroachment
This latest incursion reflects the increasingly systematic nature of Israeli violations in southern Syria, now reaching deep into populated and strategic areas.
The occupation's actions, cloaked in pretexts of countering Iranian influence and "protecting" Druze communities, are widely seen as part of a larger plan to entrench control and alter the balance of power along the Golan front.
Despite the presence of UNDOF peacekeepers in the region, Israeli aggression continues unchallenged. Damascus has urged international organizations to document these violations and hold the occupation accountable.
Yet, as geopolitical negotiations unfold behind closed doors, "Israel" presses forward with daily raids, land grabs, and destabilization tactics across Syria's south.
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