The ongoing invasion and occupation of southern Syria continues, as Israel moves ever deeper into the northern part of the Quneitra Governorate and launches yet more attacks elsewhere in Daraa Governorate.
A farmer on the outskirts of Koayiah, for instance, reported an incident beginning back in late March. He and others were out picking zucchini, and Israeli troops showed up, captured them all, and hauled them back to Israel at gunpoint.
The farmer was released later, and Israeli troops told him he’s not allowed on his farm anymore. A few days later, he reported the incident to UN Peacekeepers, who assured him he could go back to his land. While there though, Israeli troops pulled up again and drove him off.
Israel confirmed the situation, saying the farmer and the others were released after it was confirmed they were “not involved in terrorist activities.” They maintain that his farm is now a “closed military zone” though and he’s not allowed back.
In Quneitra, in the small village of Taranjah, Israeli troops showed up without warning, setting up a checkpoint nearby and raiding the homes and villagers, claiming they were carrying out “inspections.”
Taranjah is in an area already within the occupied region, but Israel hasn’t substantially taken control of every little town and village therein. Rather they are mostly focusing on controlling roads and water supplies, while occasionally menacing the locals and causing panic with surprise inspections.
In many places around southwest Syria, there are protests against the Israelis ongoing incursion and recent killings in Nawa. There is a growing viewpoint that they’re increasingly living under an active occupation, and they aren’t happy about it. Even the ruling government in Damascus, which had previously taken a hands-off approach to the Israeli invasion, is starting to be critical of the aggression, though there is no sign they intend to resist directly.
