Israel Seizes New Villages in Southern Syria, Fires on Protesters Opposing Occupation

Israeli bulldozers and tanks moving deeper into Syria’s southwest

Initially suggested to be about establishing a new buffer zone between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and southwestern Syria, the Israeli incursion after the regime change continues to grow, with them seizing yet more villages in the Daraa Province.

Israeli troops advanced into the villages of Maariyeh and Jamlah as part of their continued operations. Dozens of locals protested against Israel’s occupation near al-Jazirah barracks, just outside of Maariyeh. Israeli troops opened fire using live rounds against the protesters. At least one injury was confirmed.

Maariyeh and Jamlah are only a few kilometers from the Purple Line which separates Israeli-occupied Golan from the rest of Syria. The villages are also on the opposite side of the existing demilitarized zone set up for the UN Disengagement Observer Forces (UNDOF).

After the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad earlier this month, Israel moved across the Purple Line and into Syrian territory. Early on, they seized areas around Mt. Hermon, which is in the northernmost part of the UNDOF zone. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was recently at Mt. Hermon for a photo op, and said troops will be staying there through at least the end of 2025.

Only “temporarily” seizing the UNDOF area appears to have just been a warm-up and Israeli bulldozers and tanks have been reported moving into Jubata al-Khashab Nature Reserve to bulldoze trees and agricultural lands in the area. It has been reported Israel is banning Syrian farmers in the area from going to their own fields to tend crops.

Now they’re also expanding beyond the UNDOF zone and into Yarmouk Valley areas. In addition to seizing the aforementioned villages, they’ve reportedly moved into the town of Rafid, where they bulldozed the Syrian Army outposts and searched the area. They have also taken up positions inside the village of Jubata al-Khashab.

There has been growing international criticism of the Israeli incursions, with many nations warning Israel not to make this a long-term territory seizure. Though it is premature to conclude that they’re intending to absorb this new area into their occupied territories, that they’re going beyond UNDOF areas does suggest there is more here than meets the eye.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.