Villages and towns across the countryside of Quneitra and western Daraa, particularly in the Yarmouk Basin area, have witnessed a marked escalation in Israeli military violations in recent days, according to local residents and field reports. The incidents have heightened fear and anxiety among civilians, against the backdrop of continued security tension in southern Syria.
Mohammad al-Baridi, a resident of the area, told +963 that Israeli forces recently seized a herd of around 250 goats belonging to a local villager, without providing justification.
“This caused serious losses to our livelihoods,” he said. “It forced us to reduce grazing activity and exposed us to greater risks in agricultural areas.”
Local sources also reported repeated shooting incidents targeting civilians while they were collecting wild mushrooms in farmland, as well as gunfire directed at shepherds in various parts of rural Quneitra and western Daraa. While no civilian injuries were reported, several sheep were killed as a result of the shootings, according to available information.
Our correspondent said Israeli forces opened fire indiscriminately in the village of al-Hamidiyah in rural Quneitra, accompanied by warnings against approaching an Israeli military base in the area.
At the same time, Israeli troops carried out search and raid operations on several homes in multiple villages and towns. These operations were accompanied by the establishment of temporary checkpoints and the closure of main and secondary roads, significantly restricting civilian movement and disrupting daily life.
Repeated violations
The violations have directly affected civilian homes, with Israeli forces reportedly firing at several houses in western Daraa and Quneitra, causing material damage and spreading fear, particularly among women and children.
Yassin al-Hamad, the mukhtar of Umm al-Adham village in rural Quneitra, told +963 that Israeli patrols and violations have become routine.
“There are continuous patrols, repeated violations and failed attempts to win over the local population by distributing aid and heating fuel,” he said. “Some residents rejected these offers, while others were forced to accept them.”
Al-Hamad added that Israeli forces are seeking to impose control over local decision-making. He said even repairing electricity faults now requires prior notification of the Israeli officer stationed at the nearby base, who then contacts the Quneitra electricity company to grant permission for repairs.
He also noted that municipal sanitation vehicles are no longer allowed to enter the village without prior approval from Israeli forces, describing these measures as a direct infringement on civilian life and an intrusion into the most basic daily services.
These developments come amid growing demands from residents for an end to the violations and for guarantees that civilians can live safely and manage their local services without pressure or external interference.
Parallel negotiations
The escalation on the ground coincides with reports that Israel has dispatched a new negotiating team to Paris to resume talks with Syria after a pause of nearly two months. According to media reports, the delegation is headed by Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, and the military secretary to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The talks are reportedly aimed at enhancing stability and reducing security risks between the two sides rather than achieving a comprehensive political breakthrough. The Israeli delegation is said to include senior figures such as General Roman Gofman, a candidate to head the Mossad, and acting National Security Adviser Gil Reich.
The negotiations are taking place under US sponsorship and focus on potential security arrangements in southern Syria and efforts to reduce border tensions, amid Washington’s stated interest in stabilising the region and possibly laying the groundwork for a broader phase in Syrian–Israeli relations.
With the launch of the new negotiating round in Paris, a Syrian government source told the state news agency SANA that the discussions centre on reactivating the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. Damascus, the source said, is seeking to ensure Israeli withdrawal to positions held prior to the lines of 8 December 2024, reflecting Syria’s emphasis on adherence to previously agreed borders.
From the Israeli side, an official told the newspaper Maariv that the objective of the talks is to pursue stability and minimise security risks, without prioritising a full political settlement.
The recent Israeli violations underscore the fragile security situation in southern Syria, highlighting the daily challenges faced by local communities. As negotiations continue in Paris, residents remain caught between ongoing military pressures and hopes for a more stable, peaceful border.
