UPDATE - Israeli army launches fresh incursion into countryside of Syria’s Quneitra province

CHANGES DECK, ADDS DETAİLS

By Serdar Dincel and Tarek Chouiref

ISTANBUL (AA) - Israeli forces launched a new ground incursion Wednesday into the countryside of Quneitra province in southern Syria, setting up checkpoints and searching civilians in the latest violation of the country’s sovereignty, Syrian media reported.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said Israeli troops advanced into several locations in the southern Quneitra countryside, where they conducted house searches, set up a temporary checkpoint and detained one resident, taking him to an unknown destination.

Earlier, SANA reported that a 10-vehicle Israeli force advanced into the village of Saida al-Hanout in the same area.

Part of the force, made up of five vehicles, established a checkpoint west of the village, while the other unit advanced toward the village of Saida al-Golan and set up a checkpoint in its center.

The agency added that another Israeli force comprised of three military vehicles advanced into the village of al-Samdaniyah al-Sharqiyah, where it established a checkpoint on the road linking the village with the town of Khan Arnabah, searched civilians and disrupted traffic.

On Tuesday, Israeli forces staged a similar raid in Quneitra, advancing along the road from the village of Rasm al-Rawadi toward Tal Kroum Jaba. They also raided the village of al-Samdaniyah al-Sharqiyah and shelled agricultural lands south of the town of Jabaata al-Khashab in the northern countryside of Quneitra.

The developments came despite the announcement on Jan. 6 of the establishment of a communication mechanism between Syria and Israel, under US supervision, aimed at coordinating information exchange, reducing military escalation, engaging diplomatically and exploring trade opportunities.

The Israeli army continues to carry out near-daily airstrikes on Syrian territory, in addition to ground incursions, particularly in the countryside of Quneitra and Daraa. These actions include the arrest of civilians, the establishment of checkpoints to inspect and question civilians, and the destruction of agricultural lands.

Since 1967, Israel has occupied most of the Syrian Golan Heights. Following the ouster of the Bashar al-Assad regime on Dec. 8, 2024, Israel announced the collapse of the disengagement agreement signed between the two sides in 1974 and proceeded to occupy the Syrian buffer zone.

Syrians say the ongoing Israeli violations undermine their ability to restore stability and hamper the government’s efforts to attract investment aimed at improving economic conditions.