Over the weekend, Israeli forces launched substantial attacks in the northern part of Syria’s Quneitra Governorate. Syrian state media reported heavy gunfire was seen against the farmlands in that area, and that they had sought an explanation for the Israeli operations, but hadn’t received any explanation.
For the most part there weren’t casualties in the random attacks, but further south Israeli tanks did attack a car outside Rasm al-Za’roura on Friday, killing the 17-year-old driver, who was reportedly checking on his livestock in the area when the attack came.
The teen was taken to a hospital in the neighboring Daraa Governorate but died of his injuries. The attack reportedly took place near the line of separation between the occupied Golan Heights and the rest of Quneitra Governorate.
IDF troops enter Quneitra Governorate | image from SOHR
Syria’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the strike as a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law” that lead to the death of a civilian. The IDF has yet to explain this operation either.
On Sunday, Israeli forces raided the village of al-Hurriya, also in Quneitra Governorate, searching homes and questioning locals. 30 Israeli soldiers were reportedly with this group, which arrived in five military vehicles.
Israel invaded southern Syria in December 2024, more or less immediately following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. Though Israel’s occupation of territory has more or less been confined to the former demilitarized zone of UNDOF, they’ve also launched persistent operations deeper into the country, generally harassing locals and damaging farmlands in the heavily agriculture-based economy of Syria’s southwest.
