Israel continued its ground invasion of southwestern Syria Tuesday, but encountered some resistance, the first time it faced any meaningful opposition since invading in December. It came in the form of locals, who reportedly fired on Israeli troops in the area around the town of Koayiah, in Daraa Governorate.
The Israeli troops were entirely unharmed, but they not only returned fire but called in an airstrike against the group. Israeli tanks in the area also reportedly fired on the area. At least six people were reported killed in the incident (some reports say seven), and a number of others were wounded.
Syrian state media referred to the slain as civilians, while some in the Israeli media called them “terrorists.” Their identities are as yet unclear, though all indications are that they were residents of the area where the clash took place.
Syria condemned the Israeli attacks as a blatant violation of national sovereignty and called for the international community to launch a probe into the circumstances of the attack. The Israeli military said they intend to launch a probe to determine what group the slain Syrians belonged to “if any.”
Israeli officials confirmed the troops were in Koayiah on Tuesday, but did not indicate what they were doing there. Israeli forces regularly raids towns and villages in Daraa and Quneitra Governorates since the invasion began in December. They often interrogate locals, confiscate electronic devices, and seize government records from the municipal offices.
Though there was a lot of grumbling about the Israeli forces entering civilian areas inside Syria, and even a handful of public protests, this was the first substantial exchange of fire. If such incidents recur, Israel may find it’s invasion and occupation of more of southern Syria a lot less convenient than it appeared in December.
In addition to the Koayiah incident, Israeli troops were also reported on the road near the village of Jamalah, interrogating and searching anyone who passes by in a vehicle. There has been no comment on what this operation is about either, beyond simply being part of the ongoing Israeli incursion.
