Israeli forces violate Syrian territory amid speculated secret talks

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
27 May 2025 04:49

Israeli occupation forces penetrated Syrian territory near Quneitra as tensions persist despite reported delivery of Eli Cohen archives to "Israel", a possible signal of covert Syrian-Israeli dialogue.

Listen

Israeli occupation forces' armored vehicles block a road leading to the town of Quneitra, Syria, on January 5, 2025. (AP)

Israeli occupation forces breached Syrian territory early Tuesday morning, advancing between the villages of al-Samadaniyah al-Sharqiyah and al-Ajraf in the countryside of Quneitra, according to local Syrian sources.

The incursion involved two tanks and two military vehicles, marking yet another violation of Syrian sovereignty by the Israeli military.

This latest maneuver adds to growing concerns over Tel Aviv’s increasingly provocative activities near the occupied Golan Heights. The Israeli military has frequently carried out airstrikes on Syrian territory, destroying scores of Syrian military equipment. In

Eli Cohen's archives given to Israelis

The incident comes in the wake of a highly symbolic and controversial development earlier this month involving Syria and “Israel”. On May 2, a helicopter reportedly landed in Suweida, southern Syria, to deliver a cache of secret documents belonging to Israeli spy Eli Cohen, executed in Damascus nearly six decades ago.

According to Israeli journalist Baruch Yedid, who spoke on i24NEWS, the transfer was portrayed by unnamed Syrian sources as a gesture from Syrian President al-Sharaa to both “Israel” and the United States. The helicopter avoided flying over Jordanian or Lebanese airspace, suggesting high-level coordination for the delivery.

Though Damascus has not officially commented on the report, the development has fueled speculation of behind-the-scenes communication between Syria and the Israeli occupation, despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations and “Israel’s” continued violations of Syrian sovereignty.

Such actions, including today’s armored incursion, starkly contradict reports of improving ties and cast doubt over the sincerity and stability of any emerging understandings between Syria and the Israeli occupation, fueling uncertainty about the true trajectory of their relations.