Quneitra: The Israeli army renewed its violations of Syria's sovereignty by entering villages in the countryside of the southwestern Quneitra province and setting up checkpoints, as reported by Syrian media. The actions took place on Saturday, further escalating tensions in the region.
According to Anadolu Agency, state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV reported that Israeli troops advanced into the village of Ain Ziwan with five military vehicles, establishing a temporary checkpoint. Additionally, Israeli forces infiltrated the village of al-Ajraf in the central Quneitra countryside, deploying four military vehicles to create a checkpoint intended to search individuals passing through the area.
The incursion followed a protest held by dozens of Syrians in the city of al-Salam in Quneitra province, condemning the ongoing Israeli attacks on residents and property, as detailed by the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA. Despite Syria's government posing no direct military threat to Israel, Israeli airstrikes have persistently targeted Syrian territory, resulting in civilian casualties and the destruction of military assets belonging to the Syrian army.
Negotiations are ongoing between Damascus and Tel Aviv concerning a potential security agreement, with Syria insisting that any deal must restore pre-Dec. 8, 2024, conditions on the ground. Israel has occupied a significant portion of Syria's Golan Heights since 1967. Following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime on Dec. 8, 2024, Israel declared the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement void and proceeded to occupy the Syrian buffer zone.
Syrians argue that the continued Israeli violations undermine efforts to restore stability and hinder government plans to attract investment aimed at improving the country's economic conditions.