By Serdar Dincel
ISTANBUL (AA) - Israeli forces launched an incursion on Wednesday into the countryside of Quneitra in southern Syria and set up three checkpoints to search civilians, in the latest violation of the Arab country’s sovereignty.
According to the SANA news agency, a 10-vehicle Israeli force advanced into the village of Saida al-Hanout in the southern Quneitra countryside.
Part of the force, made up of five vehicles, established a checkpoint west of the village, while the other unit advanced toward the village of Saida al-Golan and set up a checkpoint in its center.
The agency added that another Israeli force, composed of three military vehicles, advanced into the village of al-Samdaniyah al-Sharqiyah, where it established a checkpoint on the road linking the village with the town of Khan Arnabah, searched civilians, and disrupted traffic.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces staged a similar raid in Quneitra, advancing along the road from the village of Rasm al-Rawadi toward Tal Kroum Jaba. They also raided the village of al-Samdaniyah al-Sharqiyah and shelled agricultural lands south of the town of Jabaata al-Khashab in the northern Quneitra countryside.
These developments come despite the announcement on Jan. 6 of the establishment of a communication mechanism between Syria and Israel, under US supervision, aimed at coordinating information exchange, reducing military escalation, engaging diplomatically, and exploring trade opportunities.
The Israeli army continues to carry out near-daily airstrikes on Syrian territory, in addition to ground incursions, particularly in the countryside of Quneitra and Daraa. These actions include the arrest of civilians, the establishment of checkpoints to inspect and question civilians, and the destruction of agricultural lands.
Since 1967, Israel has occupied most of the Syrian Golan Heights. Following the ouster of the Bashar al-Assad regime on Dec. 8, 2024, Israel announced the collapse of the disengagement agreement signed between the two sides in 1974 and proceeded to occupy the Syrian buffer zone.
Syrians say the ongoing Israeli violations undermine their ability to restore stability and hamper the government’s efforts to attract investment aimed at improving economic conditions.