Israeli troops carried out a pre-dawn raid against homes in Syria’s Quneitra Governorate, raiding homes in the town of al-Asha and capturing seven young men. The Israeli military said they were suspected of terrorist activities.
Syrian state media reported that 30 Israeli troops participated in the raid, and they deployed from the Israeli base in the Jubata al-Khushab forest. Israel established this base and several others within southwest Syria since they invaded in December.
An Israeli military convoy also entered the part of al-Asha leading toward al-Asbah, and established a military checkpoint there. Israeli drones were reportedly active overhead, though no attacks were reported. Locals were reportedly panicking after the Israeli troops captured the youths in the raids.
Israeli troops in Quneitra Governorate | image from SOHR
In addition to the ground troop operations, Israel reportedly shelled the Tawahine outpost in Quneitra, which was reportedly abandoned. There have been unconfirmed reports that five of the seven captured youths have been released.
Israeli raids against towns and villages in Quneitra and Daraa Governorate have been increasingly common since they began their invasion in December. Often they raid local records offices to find land ownership records, and set up temporary checkpoints to harass locals.
There have been negotiations ongoing between Israel and Syria meant to reduce military tensions, though since Israel has gone deeper in, and appears to be tempering expectations about what the deal is liable to include.
The deal is not expected to attempt to end the state of war between Israel and Syria, nor to lead the Israeli military to withdraw from Syrian territory, but now is focused on reducing hostilities while the invasion continues apace.
