Israeli forces have carried out a series of incursions, airstrikes and transgressions across the ceasefire line in southern Syria since the December 8 fall of the Assad regime, prompting condemnation from Damascus and concerns from the United Nations about repeated violations of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
The most recent act took place Saturday, June 28, when Israeli troops entered the village of Kodna in Quneitra province and raided a home. That same day, forces briefly advanced into the western outskirts of Beit Jinn and erected a temporary checkpoint before retreating. The village, in the Damascus countryside, was the site of a June 12 raid, where Israelis killed a civilian and abducted seven others.
The day prior, Israeli patrols entered Samadaniya, deployed barriers, and occupied rooftops while conducting unlawful searches of homes. No abductions were reported, but local media said that soldiers used live fire and caused damage to several properties.
Military Presence Expands in Civilian Areas
Reports from Daraa 24 confirmed additional raids on June 28 in the village of Ruwaihinah, where Israeli troops arrived in tanks and armored vehicles, firing weapons and breaking into homes. Earlier that week, forces had also been seen near Saida and Abu Mathra in Quneitra, while checkpoints remain in place on the Khabata Wood Road.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Israeli army acknowledged these operations, describing them as raids on “arms depots” and stating that individuals taken from the sites were transferred to Israel for interrogation. The army’s 210th Division, operating from Mount Hermon to the Jordanian border triangle, remains on high alert.
Syrian civilians endure continued Israeli aggression and violations. On June 16, Israeli troops demolished 10 homes in the town of Hamidiyah after issuing “evacuation warnings.” They have also restricted access to water sources, including the Al-Mantara and Ruwaihina dams.
Journalists Targeted During Coverage of Airstrike Aftermath
Journalists reporting from the region have faced harassment. On June 14, Nader Dabbou and media activist Nour Golan were interrogated while covering the aftermath of Iranian drone crashes in Quneitra. The Syrian Journalists Association condemned the treatment in a June 15 statement, calling for an independent international investigation and citing violations of the Geneva Conventions.
UN Officials Warn of Treaty Breaches
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix stated that Israeli military presence in the buffer zone violates the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. “Only UNDOF forces are permitted in that area,” Lacroix told reporters in New York on June 27. He emphasized the role of the UN Disengagement Observer Force in maintaining stability and coordinating between Israel and Syria.
Lacroix noted that the new Syrian government has pledged full cooperation with UNDOF and expressed readiness to assume security responsibilities across its territory, including the UN-monitored zone. His comments came ahead of the UN Security Council’s expected review of the mission’s mandate.
The Syrian Defense Ministry also reiterated its support for UN operations, following meetings between Defense Minister Muhraf Abu Qasra and UN officials aimed at enhancing coordination to stabilize the region.
