QUNEITRA, SYRIA – Israeli forces conducted an incursion into the Quneitra countryside in southern Syria on Saturday, according to reports from the region. The Israeli military established a checkpoint near the village of Ain Ziwan, subjecting civilians to searches and causing disruption.
Syrian state television condemned the Israeli action as a violation of Syrian sovereignty. The report indicated that five Israeli military vehicles were used to establish the checkpoint within the village.
This incursion follows a similar operation just a day prior, where Israeli forces reportedly entered areas near the towns of Al-Asha, Bir Ajam, Briqa, Umm al-Azam, and Ruwayhinah, also in the southern Quneitra region.
The increased military activity has sparked local outrage. On Friday, dozens of Syrians participated in a protest in Quneitra City, denouncing what they perceive as ongoing Israeli aggression against civilians and their property. Participants, organized by the “Syrians with Palestine” group in collaboration with local residents, held signs rejecting the repeated violations of Syrian territory.
Reports indicate that Israeli forces have been conducting near-daily incursions into southern Syria, particularly in the Quneitra province. These operations allegedly include arrests, the establishment of checkpoints, and land clearing activities, fueling growing public anger.
Despite a decrease in direct military threats, the Israeli military continues to conduct airstrikes, resulting in civilian casualties and the destruction of Syrian military sites and infrastructure.
It is worth noting that following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime on December 8, 2024, Israel declared the collapse of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and began occupying the buffer zone and encroaching deeper into Syrian territory.
Many Syrians believe that these continued violations hinder efforts to restore stability to the region and undermine attempts to improve the economic situation in southern Syria.
