Israeli occupation opens fire in Quneitra countryside during raid
3 Min Read
An Israeli patrol opened fire on shepherds in al-Hamidiyah, in the Quneitra countryside, shortly after occupation forces began withdrawing from the nearby areas of al-Asha and al-Asbah.
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Israeli tanks take position on the border with Syria in December 2024. (AFP)
Local sources in Syria have reported that an Israeli patrol opened fire on shepherds in al-Hamidiyah, located in the Quneitra countryside, amid a series of military maneuvers and brief incursions into southern Syria.
The shooting took place as Israeli occupation forces were withdrawing from the villages of al-Asha and al-Asbah, where they had previously advanced from western Tal Ahmar. The sources noted that the patrol resumed fire while retreating from the area.
According to local reports, Israeli soldiers opened fire on a group of shepherds in the area of al-Hamidiyah.
The Israeli incursion into Quneitra was accompanied by military maneuvers that included the establishment of temporary checkpoints and the deployment of multiple military vehicles.
Military movement in Quneitra countryside
The incursion began with a buildup of Israeli military vehicles west of the village of al-Asha, from which forces advanced toward neighboring areas. The Israeli patrol established a checkpoint and conducted operations in al-Asha and al-Asbah, while Israeli aircraft carried out intensive overflights across the region.
These activities are part of an ongoing series of cross-border movements by Israeli forces along the Syrian frontier.
On Sunday, another Israeli force composed of 20 soldiers and four four-wheel-drive vehicles entered the central Quneitra countryside, moving toward the village of Umm al-Azam. The unit set up a checkpoint at the Umm al-Azam Dam junction, where they stopped and searched civilians and stole several motorcycles.
#متابعة: قوة مشاة تابعة لجيش الاحتلال الإسرائيلي تتوغل داخل قرية العشة، وتُجري عملية تفتيش لأحد المنازل، وفقاً لمصدر محلي لـ درعا24.
— Daraa 24 - 24 درعا (@Daraa24_24) April 20, 2025
وكان أشار المصدر إلى أن رتلاً عسكرياً دخل من الجهة الغربية للقرية قادماً من الجولان المحتل، حيث تمركزت آليات إسرائيلية غرب العشة، بالتزامن مع تحرك… https://t.co/AZqdvccAtI
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the motorcycles were later returned to their owners, and the Israeli unit withdrew from the area without further incident.
It is worth noting that the Syrian province of Quneitra has witnessed a rapid increase in Israeli military activity, marked by swift incursions and expanded targeting zones. Local reports indicate that the occupation forces have widened their operations to include civilian areas, suggesting a strategy that may involve the displacement of the local population.
Earlier this week, Israeli occupation forces carried out a sudden military operation near the towns of Taranjeh and Koum Mheires, targeting Syrian army positions and destroying installations within minutes. The strikes also hit nearby residential zones, raising concerns about whether the targeting was deliberate or collateral.
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