Israeli Troops Beat, Arrest French Journalist As They Expand South Syria Presence

Israeli troops continue to advance deeper into southern Syria, particularly in the Quneitra Governate, where they are occupying a growing amount of territory and have been expelling Syrian civilians from the area. Foreign media has been trying to offer more and more coverage of those operation.

French journalist Sylvain Mercadier has been among those in Quneitra covering the Israeli invasion, but was beaten by Israeli troops and captured today alongside his Syrian lawyer. Israeli officials claimed the journalist had gotten “too close” to the Israeli troops in the village of El Hmidaiah.

Mercadier has reportedly been released after five hours in Israeli custody, blindfolded and on his knees. Israeli troops called him a “mercenary,” and confiscated his camera memory cards. They also reportedly took $200 in cash from his lawyer.

El Hmidaiah is on highway 7 between the towns of Quneitra and Khan Arnabeh. It has been a topic in recent media reports, as Israel has occupied the village, expelled the civilian population, and has destroyed possessions in multiple homes, including reportedly burning Qurans. They have also set up barricades and closed highway 7 in the area.

There are also reports of Israeli troops forcing their way deeper into the town of Ba’ath. One resident reported that Israeli troops forced him to enter the cultural center first during one of their raids, and that they had smashed up the doors in the center, along with damaging electronic equipment. The photograph of Israeli troops in Ba’ath, ironically, came from Mercadier himself, and was taken before he was “arrested.”

Israel has been building up its presence in Ba’ath for days now, setting up barricades in the town to keep residents away from the governate’s palace, which they now occupy.

Israel invaded Syria in the wake of last month’s regime change, occupying the UNDOF “demilitarized zone” between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and the rest of Syria. Israeli troops have subsequently moved deeper into Syria beyond the demilitarized zone.

Israeli troops are mostly in Quneitra and Daraa Governates. They are reportedly demolishing homes in several areas and also leveling orchards. Exactly what they expect to accomplish is unclear, though the US State Department has endorsed the operation, claiming invading Syria amounted to “self defense.”