Israeli forces raid Quneitra countryside, in new violation of Syria’s sovereignty

By Laith Al-jnaidi and Rania Abu Shamala

DAMASCUS/ISTANBUL (AA) - The Israeli army staged a new military incursion into Quneitra in southern Syria on Friday, in the latest violation of the country’s sovereignty.

An Israeli force consisting of four military vehicles moved into Ofania village in Quneitra’s northern countryside and set up a checkpoint between the village and the town of Khan Arnabeh, searching passing cars and people, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

The raid came one day after Israeli forces advanced into the village of Ruwayhina in southern Quneitra on Thursday.

Damascus has repeatedly condemned Israel’s ongoing violations of its sovereignty, reaffirming its adherence to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement signed between the two countries – an agreement Israel declared null after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in late 2024.

Israeli incursions in Quneitra have recently intensified, with locals complaining of Tel Aviv’s advances into their farmland as well as the destruction of hundreds of acres of forests, arrests of residents, and the establishment of military checkpoints.

Although the current Damascus administration poses no threat to Israel, the Israeli army has repeatedly crossed into Syrian territory, carrying out airstrikes that killed civilians and destroyed military positions, vehicles, weapons, and ammunition belonging to the Syrian army.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa earlier said that the Israeli army has conducted more than 1,000 airstrikes and over 400 incursions since the overthrow of the Assad regime on Dec. 8, 2024.