Israeli forces fire on Syrian farmland in Quneitra, continue violations despite communication pact

Israeli forces opened heavy machine-gun fire on farmland near the town of Kudna in southern Syria’s Quneitra countryside on Friday, Syrian state media reported. The attack, which caused no casualties, was described by Syrian television as a continued violation of the country’s sovereignty.

The incident follows similar artillery strikes late Thursday on agricultural areas between the villages of Abidin and Ma’araba in Daraa province and on the outskirts of Jabata al-Khashab in northern Quneitra, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). No injuries were reported in those attacks either. These violations occur despite a January 6 agreement between Syria and Israel to establish a U.S.-supervised communication mechanism aimed at reducing military escalation and enabling diplomatic engagement.

Ongoing Incursions and Context

Israeli ground forces have also conducted advances into Quneitra in recent days, detaining at least one young man on Wednesday. Israel has maintained near-daily military operations in southern Syria, including strikes, ground incursions, checkpoint setups, and destruction of farmland. Since the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Israel declared the 1974 disengagement agreement collapsed and moved into the Syrian buffer zone. Syria has occupied most of the Golan Heights since 1967.

Syrian officials argue that continued Israeli actions undermine stability and hinder economic recovery efforts. The recent U.S.-mediated communication mechanism was intended to coordinate information sharing and explore commercial opportunities, but on-the-ground hostilities have persisted.