Nader Deppo
The southern Syrian regions have witnessed increasing tension as Israeli military operations continue in rural Daraa and Quneitra. On February 28, 2025, Israeli occupying forces launched a new incursion, accompanied by violent explosions in the western countryside of Damascus. This escalation comes amid Israeli efforts to take advantage of the local population by offering food aid and enticing job opportunities, capitalizing on Syria’s worsening economic crisis.
Field Escalation in Quneitra and Damascus
At 2 a.m.Israeli military forces launched extensive movements in the Quneitra countryside and the western countryside of Damascus. Occupying forces advanced into several strategic positions, accompanied by heavy shelling near the capital Damascus.
According to field sources, these military actions were preceded by the entry of vehicles loaded with relief supplies into villages in rural Quneitra, a move residents described as an attempt to gain local favour before military operations.
The sources told +963 that Israeli forces, backed by tanks and heavy machinery, entered the military hill of Mashara in eastern Quneitra, clearing former military observatories and barracks amid heavy fire. The forces also advanced into the town of Umm Batina and seized control of the Al-Khawald military company, warning residents not to leave their homes.
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During their withdrawal, Israeli forces detonated three military outposts and bulldozed other barracks, with fire to intimidate the residents. They also blocked the road between Mashara and the Sakher Spring, increasing tension in the region.
In another provocative move, an Israeli force was stationed between the villages of Qabal and Saisin in the Yarmouk Basin in the western countryside of Daraa, setting up a military barrier on the Wadi al-Rakkad junction north of Qabal.
Field sources confirmed to +963 that troops entered through a road connecting the occupied Golan Heights with the village of Ajmal, amid extensive reconnaissance aircraft overflights in the area. Observers view the construction of this checkpoint as a potentially dangerous step that could pave the way for Israel’s further expansion into the south of Syria.
Economic Einticements as a Tool for Influence
As part of its endeavours to strengthen its influence, Israel has resorted to food aid and lucrative job offers to sway the local population.
Speaking exclusively to +963, Dr. Ali Zaiton, a member of the local council in Quneitra, stated that Israel is attempting to impose a new reality by combining military forcewith economic incentives.
Dr. Zaiton emphasized that these offers are not driven by humanitarian concerns but serve as a strategic attempt to win over the population and undermine their national stance.
Ahmed Kiwan, a prominent figure in Khan Arnabah, told +963 that Israel was taking advantage of the deteriorating economic conditions in Syria, but will not succeed in imposing its will on the people of the region. He warned against attempts to buy the resident’s loyalties through financial incentives and aid.
Meanwhile, Hamza al-Golani (a pseudonym) one of the people of Quneitra working inside Israeli territory, revealed to +963 that Israel was intensifying its efforts to attract Syrian youth to work within its territory, exploiting difficult economic conditions.
Al-Golani explained that Israel is taking advantage of the difficult living situation, trying to recruit young Syrians for jobs in agriculture and construction with high salaries compared to the ones inside Syria. He noted that the Israeli authorities rely on local intermediaries to persuade young people, promising them residence permits in the occupied Golan Heights. However, these offers are not merely employment opportunities, but a calculated attempt to deepen the region’s dependence on the occupation.
Al-Golani noted that the wages offered by Israel are significantly higher compared to local income with some jobs reaching $100 per day, but he stressed that under normal circumstances, no one would consider working for Israel, regardless of the salaries, it not for the severe economic hardships they face.
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Public Rejection and Widespread Protests
Despite Israel’s tempting offers, these efforts have been met with widespread popular rejection. In the town of Rafid and several other areas of Quneitra countryside, demonstrations took to the streets to protest against any cooperation with Israel. Protesters stressed that accepting Israeli aid or working within the occupied territories would mean recognition of the legitimacy of the occupation, which the people of the region firmly reject.
Several southern Syrian governorates also witnessed demonstrations denouncing statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently spoke of the need to make southern Syria a demilitarized zone.
Analysts suggest that Israel’s recent actions reflect the occupation’s intention to strengthen its influence in the south of Syria, whether through direct military incursion or economic and social impact.
Field sources confirmed that Israel is seeking to reduce security threats from the border area and secure its northern border, without engaging in a comprehensive military confrontation.
With Israel’s ongoing incursion, the establishment of new military posts in the Yarmouk Basin and explosions in rural Damascus, the critical question remains: Is Israel seeking to impose a new fait accompli in southern Syrian, or will popular rejection and local resistance derail these efforts?
