Israeli military forces have intensified their presence in Syrian territory, reportedly conducting incursions into the town of Al-Rafid in southern Quneitra and the village of Ruwaihina, deploying tanks for several hours as part of the operation.
Local sources report that Israeli forces are capitalizing on the worsening living conditions in Syrian border villages, a situation that has declined significantly since the downfall of former President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime.
Sources have indicated that Israeli authorities have been collecting information to assess the economic and living conditions of residents in certain areas, ostensibly to provide humanitarian aid and improve local services such as electricity access.
According to sources, the Israeli initiative faced unequivocal rejection from residents of the Syrian towns. This reaction is reportedly rooted in the belief among locals that the actions of the occupying force are not driven by goodwill, but rather by an attempt to foster a supportive environment for its presence.
Following the collapse of the previous regime, Israeli forces advanced into a United Nations-administered buffer zone within Syria’s Quneitra province. This area serves as a separation between Syrian territory and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. The incursion marks the end of a ceasefire agreement that had been maintained between Damascus and Israel since 1974.
According to satellite imagery, occupying forces have gained control over several villages in the region, including the Syrian side of the strategically significant Mount Hermon, and are reportedly constructing unauthorized military installations.
