Quneitra, southwest Syria – Israeli forces carried out raids in several towns across Syria’s southern Quneitra province on Wednesday, arresting multiple civilians, security sources told +963.
In the town of Ofaniya, Israeli troops detained two young men after storming their homes in an early-morning raid. A separate patrol stopped in Khan Arnabeh, in the provincial centre, and used loudspeakers to demand the surrender of Suhail Arabi, a local resident. When he did not appear, soldiers arrested his father, according to witnesses.
The raids were accompanied by reconnaissance drones, smoke grenades, and house-to-house searches that lasted more than 90 minutes. The operations triggered heightened security alerts and anxiety among residents.
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At the same time, Israeli units advanced into Jbata al-Khashab and Ofaniya, arresting at least four more men and searching several homes, Al Arabiya reported.
The latest wave of arrests is part of a broader campaign. Since December 8, 2024, Israel has repeatedly launched incursions into southern Syria, including areas designated as part of the demilitarized zone under the 1974 disengagement agreement, drawing accusations of ceasefire violations.
Local residents and Syrian officials denounced the raids as an infringement on national sovereignty and an unnecessary escalation in an already volatile border region.
In a report released today, Human Rights Watch accused Israel of committing “a pattern of serious violations” in southern Syria, including forced displacement, unlawful property seizures, and the transfer of Syrian detainees into Israeli custody. The organization described forced displacement as a war crime under international law.
The group urged international actors to suspend military assistance that could facilitate such abuses and to impose targeted sanctions on officials deemed responsible.
