Israeli forces launched new incursions into the Quneitra countryside on Sunday August 24, marking the third such incursion there this month. According to local sources, Israeli troops entered the village of Ain al-Abd, where they searched a home. The operation followed earlier raids the same day in the towns of Brega and Bir Ajam, where forces seized control of a checkpoint and detained one civilian.
The same weekend, eight Israeli military vehicles entered the village of Abdeen in the Yarmouk Basin area west of Daraa, arresting three young men before releasing them hours later. Other patrols set up checkpoints in Quneitra’s Brega and Ajraf villages, restricting civilian movement and searching homes.
Raids tied to Weapons Seizures and Arrests
The Israeli army confirmed in a statement on Sunday that its Golan Brigade (474), under the 210th Division, carried out several raids across southern Syria over the past week. The army said its forces “discovered weapons depots” containing RPG missiles, explosive devices, Kalashnikov rifles and large quantities of ammunition. The statement added that suspects were arrested and interrogated in cooperation with Unit 504, an intelligence unit that conducted investigations based on information gathered in recent weeks.
The Hebrew news outlet Ynet reported that “fighters from the 474th Brigade completed several raids in the Golan Heights in recent days to locate weapons and arrest and interrogate suspects.” The outlet quoted an Israeli army spokesperson as saying that simultaneous searches uncovered arms caches and led to multiple arrests.
Violations of Disengagement Pact
The raids violate the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, which set terms for a buffer zone between Israel and Syria after the Yom Kippur War. Local correspondents noted that Israeli patrols frequently detain civilians, especially farmers and shepherds living near separation lines.
Israeli operations in the Quneitra countryside have escalated since July, when incursions in the village of Bassali led to the arrest of two young men. These moves add to a pattern of arrests and home searches reported throughout recent months.
Wider Presence in Southern Syria
Beyond the latest raids, Israel expanded its occupation of southern Syria in recent years. For the past seven months, Israeli forces have occupied Mount Hermon and a 15-kilometer-wide strip in parts of Quneitra and Daraa, effectively controlling a population of more than 40,000 Syrians inside the buffer zone, according to Syrian media reports.
Israeli media also suggests that Tel Aviv and Damascus are negotiating a possible security agreement. The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that roughly 80 percent of issues have been settled, though disagreements remain over Israel’s request to maintain forces at strategic locations, including Mount Hermon and high ground in Quneitra.
Escalation Near Occupied Golan Heights
Since the December 8 fall of the Assad regime, Israeli strikes on Syrian territory have intensified. Hundreds of air raids and ground incursions have targeted military infrastructure, while cross-border operations continue in Quneitra, Damascus and Daraa.
The recent incursions in Ain al-Abd, Brega and Bir Ajam reflect an ongoing cycle of military actions along the frontier, raising concerns that violations of the disengagement pact could further destabilize an already volatile border region.
