Israeli forces conduct new ground raid in southern Syria's Quneitra

Israeli military forces conducted a ground incursion into southern Syria early Monday, entering the countryside of Quneitra province, according to reports from Syrian state media. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) stated that three Israeli military vehicles patrolled areas near the village of Saida al-Hanout while an unmanned aerial vehicle operated overhead. Israeli authorities have not issued an immediate comment on the reported operation, which Damascus characterizes as a violation of its sovereignty.

Details of the Military Movement

The state media report detailed that the Israeli vehicles operated in the western parts of the village. Additionally, Israeli forces were said to have relocated two tanks from a position in Quneitra city to the al-Hamidiyah area to the north. This incident follows a similar raid reported on Sunday, during which Israeli troops allegedly established two temporary checkpoints in the northern and southern parts of the Quneitra countryside, indicating a pattern of increased ground activity in the border region.

Context of Escalating Operations

This latest raid occurs within a context of significantly heightened Israeli military operations inside Syria. Official Syrian data cited by SANA indicates that since December 2024, Israel has carried out more than 1,000 airstrikes on Syrian territory alongside over 400 ground incursions into southern provinces. The frequency of these operations has intensified following regional political shifts, including the change in Syria's government in late 2024.

Broader Regional Implications

Israel's military activities in Syria, particularly in the Golan Heights region, have long been a source of regional tension. Reports note that Israel expanded its control in the area by seizing the demilitarized buffer zone established by a 1974 disengagement agreement, following the fall of the previous Syrian government. The ongoing operations underscore the persistent volatility of the Syrian-Israeli frontier and present a complex security challenge for the region, where Türkiye maintains a vested interest in stability along its southern borders.