The Israeli military announced yesterday that it apprehended and returned a group of Israeli citizens who had crossed the border into Syria, near the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon. According to Israeli media reports, the individuals intended to establish an unauthorized settlement within Syrian territory.
In a statement, the Israeli army confirmed that its forces located and retrieved the group after they crossed the border from two separate locations in the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon. Troops were dispatched to the area and intercepted the individuals shortly after they crossed the demarcation line, before escorting them back into Israel.
The Israeli military reported that some of the individuals resisted arrest before being apprehended. They were subsequently taken into custody and transferred to a local police station for questioning. The army described the incident as a “serious criminal violation” that “endangers the lives of civilians and military personnel.”
According to reports, the group are allegedly members of the “Pioneers of Bashan” settlement movement, and sought to establish settlements in what they refer to as the Bashan envelope, in southern Syria. This incident marks the second such attempt in recent months. In August, eight Israelis reportedly attempted to cross the border in the Ajami area with the aim of establishing an outpost within Syrian territory.
DZWatch has observed an increase in Israeli activities in the Quneitra region of southwestern Syria. Local Syrians have voiced complaints about incursions into their agricultural lands, which represent their primary source of livelihood, as well as the destruction of hundreds of acres of forest land. They also report arrests, the establishment of military checkpoints, and increased scrutiny of civilians.
The Israeli military has also conducted airstrikes in the area, resulting in civilian casualties and the destruction of Syrian military sites, vehicles, weapons, and ammunition. As of yet, there has been no official comment from Damascus regarding the incident reported by the Israeli army. However, Syria has repeatedly condemned what it views as violations of its sovereignty and reaffirmed its commitment to the 1974 disengagement agreement, which Tel Aviv claimed had collapsed following the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024.
