Israeli military operations and incursions continued across southern Syria this week, as residents in the provinces of Daraa and Quneitra reported shelling, checkpoints, land restrictions and house raids increasing fears among civilians living near the occupied Golan Heights.
In western Daraa province, Israeli forces prevented farmers from accessing agricultural land near the village of Maariya in the Yarmouk Basin area, according to local outlet Daraa 24. Residents said soldiers declared roughly 300 dunams of farmland a “no-go zone,” triggering confrontations with civilians.
Witnesses told Daraa 24 that one man was thrown to the ground after objecting to the restrictions, while an elderly woman was handled roughly during the dispute. Farmers said the affected land contains summer crops including cucumbers, zucchini and okra irrigated from the Abdeen Dam. One resident said his personal losses could exceed 7 million Syrian pounds (~$600 USD) after being blocked from tending eight dunams of cultivated land.
Residents added that previous restrictions had already cut them off from farmland and grazing areas surrounding the Jazeera barracks, which Israeli forces have illegally occupied since late 2024. Villagers also reported repeated gunfire from the area, increasing anxiety among families and children. Local residents appealed to Syrian authorities and international organizations for intervention, saying agriculture and livestock remain the primary source of income for much of the region.
Checkpoints and Shelling Intensify
In neighboring Quneitra province, Israeli patrols conducted near-daily incursions into villages near the ceasefire line. Local correspondents from Enab Baladi and Syria TV reported Israeli forces established temporary checkpoints near Jabatha al-Khashab, Umm Batna and Khan Arnabeh, where soldiers searched passersby and inspected identification documents.
On Monday, Israeli forces fired over 10 mortars near the village of Taranga and surrounding agricultural lands in northern Quneitra countryside, according to local media reports. No casualties were reported, though residents described the shelling as an intimidation tactic aimed at discouraging civilians from approaching their farmland.
Military patrols also advanced along roads connecting the villages of Mashidah, Muallaqah, Hayran and Rafid before later withdrawing. Syrian media outlets reported Israeli drones and warplanes flew repeatedly over the region during the operations. Additional incursions took place in the towns of Saida al-Golan and Rafid, where Israeli forces reportedly searched homes without making arrests.
The “Sijil” Center for Human Rights documented 254 Israeli violations across southern Syria during April, the second-highest monthly total recorded this year. According to the organization, Quneitra accounted for 213 incidents, including raids, checkpoints and military incursions, while Daraa recorded 32 violations involving shelling and aerial activity.
Displacement and Demolitions Continue
Residents of Hamidiyah village in Quneitra say Israeli military expansion has already transformed entire neighborhoods since Israeli forces moved deeper into southern Syria following Assad’s fall. Several villagers reported Israeli bulldozers demolished homes near newly established military positions, leaving families displaced without compensation or alternative housing. Residents reported Israeli soldiers stormed homes shortly after entering the village and later destroyed both homes and agricultural land to expand military fortifications near the Hamidiyah base.
They described how soldiers detained families for hours inside their home expelling them and demolishing their home months later, along with others in the area. Local officials said Syrian authorities and UN teams visited affected communities and promised assessments for compensation, though many displaced residents say little practical support has materialized.
Regional Anxiety Grows
The continuing military activity heightened tensions across southern Syria, where civilians already face economic hardship and instability after years of conflict. Israeli officials have not publicly commented on the recent violations, though Israeli forces have repeatedly stated in the past that military deployments near the Golan Heights aim to address “security concerns.”
For residents in Daraa and Quneitra, however, the expanding military presence, restrictions on farmland and repeated incursions have deepened uncertainty about daily life in communities situated along one of Syria’s most sensitive border regions.
