Israeli troops are carrying out a growing number of operations in southwestern Syria in recent days, with two young men reportedly captured on farms in the Quneitra Governorate on Wednesday, and yet more operations happening Thursday.
An Israeli patrol set up a checkpoint in Quneitra on Thursday and was searching random passersby during the afternoon. Another patrol crossed into Daraa Governorate, though so far there were no indications of any incidents there.
Israeli forces also reportedly shelled farmer fields in the Tel Ahmar area of Quneitra. The fields were damaged, though the IDF did not comment as to why the fields were being targeted in the first place.
Israeli artillery fires on fields in Syria’s Quneitra Governorate | Image from SOHR
No casualties were reported in the attacks on the fields, but given these are agriculture-heavy regions of Syria the attack on the fields at all necessarily damages the economic sustainability of the region.
Israel has notably not issued statements regarding any of their recent operations inside southern Syria, never commenting on the detention of locals nor explaining to what end they’re shelling farmers’ fields.
Israel invaded southwestern Syria in December of 2024, after the ouster of the Assad government. They occupied the demilitarized zone between Syria and the occupied Golan Heights, and while they’ve continued to move deeper into Syria since then, they’ve largely not occupied additional territory. Instead, they have pushed for the establishment of a new demilitarized zone between the old zone and the rest of Syria.
