Israeli forces are launching more and more incursions into southwest Syria in recent days. Having launched about 450 incursions during all of 2025, that number has been met and nearly exceeded already in 2026, despite the year being barely half over.
Multiple new raids were reported again this weekend across both Quneitra and Daraa Governorates. Troops entered the north Quneitra village of Sharqiyah, setting up a checkpoint and searching locals along one of the roads.
Troops also fired an artillery shell at the outskirts of al-Hamadiyah, another agricultural village in Quneitra. It’s not clear why they did so, but smoke grenades were also dropped by drones in the area. No casualties were reported.
Israeli checkpoint in western Daraa Governorate | Image from SOHR
IDF troops detonated sound bombs near the village of Abiden in western Daraa. Reportedly this was following an incident in which villagers set up stones along the road leading to the village to try to prevent Israeli military vehicles entering. Troops also entered Wadi al-Raqad area around Daraa, though in that case they didn’t set up a checkpoint.
Concern is growing about further escalation as well, after the IDF reported shooting down a drone of unknown origin in what used to be the UNDOF demilitarized zone around Mount Hermon. They said an investigation is ongoing.
While UNDOF’s job has changed substantially since 2024, when Israel invaded and occupied the demilitarized zone they were meant to monitor, the group is still trying to remain useful. Reportedly, UNDOF is now issuing ID cards for Syrian farmers in the areas where Israeli incursions regularly occur, so that they can present the cards to the invading troops and then continue their harvests.
Since southwest Syria is overwhelmingly agriculture land, farmers and shepherds are a major amount of the workforce, and Israeli troops in the countryside regularly accost them, sometimes detaining them for further questioning. The ID cards are meant to at least reduce the chances of that happening.
