Israeli occupation forces carried out multiple incursions this week in southern Syria’s Quneitra province, opening fire in residential areas and detaining civilians. According to the local outlet Horan Free League (HFL), troops entered the towns of Kudna and Ain Ziwan, firing on motorcycles and searching homes, though no casualties were reported. A day earlier, forces set up a temporary checkpoint in Samadania al-Sharqiya before questioning residents.
Local outlets reported that Israeli soldiers also raided the village of Taranja in northern Quneitra, arresting one civilian and assaulting others during house-to-house searches. Days before, three men transporting wood in the destroyed Quneitra area were arrested, and their tractor confiscated. Similar incidents have been documented in neighboring Daraa, where two young men from Saysoun were shot and later transferred to Israeli-held territory.
Military Operations Beyond the Border
These incursions accompany a broader escalation of Israeli military activity in Syria. Following the collapse of the Assad government last December, Israel launched hundreds of air raids targeting Syrian military sites, according to state and regional media. On July 16 alone, Israel conducted more than 160 airstrikes in 24 hours, including on government facilities in Damascus. Defense Minister Yisrael Katz posted on X that “the heavy strikes have begun,” signaling further operations.
Analysts note that Israel has shifted from limited “preemptive” operations to a strategy aimed at reshaping the region through prolonged conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu justified intervention by citing “the need to protect the Druze community in Suwayda,” though critics argue the strikes deepen instability and hinder reconstruction.
Regional Backlash to Expansionist Policies
Neighboring states and international organizations have voiced alarm at Israel’s widening actions. Jordan’s King Abdullah II told a visiting US congressional delegation Monday that his country rejects the so-called “Greater Israel Vision,” citing settlement expansion in the West Bank and military control over Palestinian and Syrian territories, according to the Jordanian News Agency, Petra. The king also reiterated support for Syria’s unity and stability.
In a joint statement Friday, foreign ministers of 31 Arab and Islamic countries, along with the Arab League and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), condemned Netanyahu’s expansionist rhetoric as “a blatant and dangerous violation of international law.” The statement warned that settlement plans and annexation efforts threaten regional security and international peace.
Calls for Accountability
European officials have also weighed in. Ten members of the European Parliament sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urging an international investigation into Israeli operations in Syria and calling for an emergency UN Security Council session. The lawmakers wrote that “ignoring the current crisis in Syria poses a direct threat to regional and international peace and security,” pressing the EU to act swiftly.
As Israeli forces continue raids across southern Syria, humanitarian agencies warn that the intensifying conflict complicates relief work and undermines prospects for stability. With Arab and European leaders denouncing the incursions and expansionist policies, the dispute has widened beyond bilateral tensions, placing the issue firmly on the regional and international agenda.
