Since their invasion of southwestern Syria in December of 2024, Israel has intermittently raided towns and villages across the Quneitra and Daraa Governorates, but has also aimed to secure control over water sources, vital in a region primarily focused on agriculture.
Monday, a unit of around 30 Israeli infantry advanced on the Ruwaihina Dam in the central part of Quneitra. The troops deployed there and show no signs that they intend for that deployment to be temporary. The IDF has yet to comment on the matter.
Ruwaihina Dam is a lifeline for villagers in Ruwaihina. Built in the 1980s, the residents of the village are primarily farmers and also operate fish farms using the dam to control water supplies.
The IDF has raided Ruwaihina multiple times in 2025, raiding homes and causing damage to several buildings within. This happens in a lot of towns and villages in Quneitra, but up until now there had been no permanent Israeli presents in Ruwaihina.
Syria issued a statement reiterating their call for Israel to withdraw from Syrian territory, though again there appears to be little sign that’s going to happen, and again the IDF has yet to even comment on the fact that their troops are there in the first place.
Direct negotiations have been ongoing intermittently for nearly a year now between Israel and Syria, but Israel has suggested the idea of them withdrawing from Syrian territory was effectively a non-starter, and that they’re holding out for a deal encroaching even deeper into Syrian territory.
