Israeli forces conducted a military incursion into Syria’s southwestern Quneitra province, establishing checkpoints, searching homes and detaining two Syrian men, representing a pattern of escalating Israeli military operations in southern Syria.
A UN fact finding mission arrived in Qunietra following a military raid by Israeli forces into the village of Sidat al-Hanout in Syria’s Quneitra province, according to Syrian state media. The raid involved six military vehicles and included searches of civilian homes and the establishment of multiple checkpoints throughout the area.
Syrian state-run television Alikhbaria reported that Israeli troops searched four homes and erected four checkpoints inside the village. No immediate information was available regarding arrests or casualties following the incursion, leaving residents uncertain about the outcome of the operation.
Concern over Israeli raids
The raid came as Israeli military activity in southern Syria has increased sharply in recent months. Local authorities and residents say these near daily incursions have heightened tensions and disrupted daily life in the area.
On the same day as the raid, officials in Quneitra said a UN fact finding committee arrived in the province to document alleged violations linked to Israeli military activity. The visit reflects growing international attention on operations in the area and their impact on civilians.
“UN fact-finding committee has arrived in Quneitra as part of its mission to document violations committed by the Israeli occupation army against civilians and their property,” the Quneitra Governorate said in a statement posted on its official Telegram channel.
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Local officials say the documentation effort is critical as residents report repeated incursions, property damage, and temporary detentions. They argue that sustained monitoring may help create an official record of events on the ground.
The raid followed other recent Israeli operations in Quneitra. Syrian media reported that Israeli forces briefly detained two young men at a checkpoint established after an earlier incursion into nearby villages.
The two men were stopped at a checkpoint set up between the town of Umm Batna and the village of al-Ajraf in rural Quneitra. They were later released, though no details were provided about the reasons for their detention or the duration.
Locals left fearful
Residents say such incidents contribute to a climate of fear and unpredictability. Even short term detentions, they argue, reinforce concerns that civilian movement and daily life remain subject to sudden military actions.
The Sidat al-Hanout raid comes against the backdrop of far deadlier Israeli operations elsewhere in southern Syria. In a separate incident reported by international media, Israeli forces raided the village of Beit Jin and opened fire after being confronted by residents, killing at least 13 people.
Syria’s Foreign Ministry described that attack as a “horrific massacre” and said women and children were among those killed. A local official, Walid Okasha, said those killed were civilians, including a family and a man who had married the day before.
Israel said the Beit Jin operation targeted suspects from the Jamaa Islamiya militant group who were planning attacks into Israel, and that troops returned fire after coming under fire. Jamaa Islamiya is the Lebanese arm of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Israeli authorities did not provide evidence to support the allegations, neither did the Syrian government nor J.I. For Syrians in Quneitra, the episode underscores fears that a raid like the one in Sidat al-Hanout could escalate with little warning.
Syrian government data shows that since December 2024, Israel has carried out over 1,000 airstrikes on Syria and more than 400 cross border raids into southern provinces.
Officials say such actions undermine stability efforts and complicate plans to attract investment and improve economic conditions in the region.
