Israeli forces establish temporary checkpoint in Syria’s Quneitra province
Israeli troops entered the Syrian village of Ain Ziwan in Quneitra province with military vehicles and set up a temporary checkpoint, according to Syrian state media. The incursion follows protests against Israeli actions and occurs amidst complex negotiations over security arrangements in the occupied Golan Heights.
Israeli military forces conducted a ground incursion into southwestern Syria on Saturday, entering the village of Ain Ziwan in Quneitra province and establishing a temporary checkpoint, Syrian state television reported. The action, described by Damascus as a violation of sovereignty, involved five military vehicles and comes amid heightened tensions along the demarcation line in the Golan Heights.
Protests and a Context of Negotiations
The raid occurred a day after dozens of Syrians staged a protest in the city of al-Salam within the same province, denouncing ongoing Israeli operations. This military movement unfolds within a delicate diplomatic context. While Damascus and Tel Aviv are engaged in negotiations over a potential security agreement, the Syrian government has conditioned any deal on a restoration of conditions on the ground to their status prior to December 8, 2024.
Background of Occupation and Disputed Agreements
Israel has occupied most of Syria's Golan Heights since the 1967 war. Following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024, Israel declared the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement—which established a buffer zone—null and void and moved to occupy that zone. This unilateral action fundamentally altered the status quo that had governed the area for decades.
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Syrian Accusations of Undermining Stability
Syrian authorities argue that continued Israeli military actions, including frequent airstrikes and ground incursions, undermine efforts to restore national stability and complicate government plans to attract investment for economic recovery. They maintain that despite posing no direct military threat, Syrian territory and civilians continue to be targeted, further destabilizing the region.
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