Israeli Military Incursion Escalates Tensions in Southern Syria

QUNEITRA / DARAMSUQ (Damascus) — The situation in southern Syria continues to deteriorate as Israeli forces launched yet another ground incursion early Sunday morning, this time targeting the towns of Suwaisa and Ain Zaywan in the southern Quneitra countryside. The operation saw Israeli troops raid several homes and fire shots indiscriminately, further deepening local fears and aggravating instability, brfore withdrawing from the area.

According to Yasmin Abu Assaf, a local resident of Ain Zaywan, “a military unit entered the village before dawn, raiding three homes and conducting invasive searches.” The reasons behind the operation remain unclear. The Israeli unit later withdrew without making any arrests.

The situation escalated even further when another Israeli force advanced into the neighboring town of Suwaisa, where it opened heavy fire, causing panic among civilians. “There was complete chaos,” Yasmin told SyriacPress. “The gunfire caused widespread fear, and many families ran for cover, not knowing what was happening.”

As of now, neither the Syrian government nor the United Nations peacekeeping forces stationed in the Golan region have issued statements on this latest incursion. The absence of any official explanation has only added to mounting speculation about Israeli intentions and the broader implications for the region’s fragile stability.

Israeli operations in Quneitra and surrounding areas have escalated in frequency, becoming almost daily events. Local sources report that many of these incursions involve arbitrary detentions, including of minors, with no clear legal justification. The lack of transparency has sparked growing resentment and anxiety among residents, particularly given the apparent impunity with which Israeli forces operate.

The July 13 incident follows an airborne operation on July 4, near the town of Yaafour, during which Israeli troops parachuted into Syrian territory—an unusual and provocative tactic that drew alarm even among pro-government circles in Daramsuq (Damascus).

While the Quneitra countryside remains under mounting pressure from Israeli military activity, neighboring Daraa Governorate has become the epicenter of civil unrest and grassroots resistance. Over the past week, dozens of residents from the town of Tasil and surrounding areas have taken to the streets in anti-Daesh and anti-Israeli demonstrations, protesting what they describe as the return of former Islamic State operatives and the unchecked violations of Syrian sovereignty.

Protesters held banners reading “No to Terror, Yes to Justice” and “Syria is for Syrians, Not for Mercenaries or Occupiers.” Demonstrators voiced frustration over reports that former Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist fighters have reintegrated into local security forces with the tacit approval of Daramsuq (Damascus).

Eyewitnesses report that demonstrators in Tasil, Inkhil, and Jasim chanted against the resurgence of extremist actors in the region, as well as the lack of accountability for Israeli actions. In some cases, roadblocks were erected, and clashes briefly erupted between protesters and state-aligned militias attempting to disperse the crowds.

“The people of Daraa are caught between two fires—extremism on one side and foreign occupation on the other,” said a local community leader who asked to remain anonymous. “We want peace, but we also want our voices heard.”

The simultaneous pressure from Israeli incursions, radical insurgents, and state neglect highlights the complexity of the current security crisis in southern Syria. With growing fears of an open confrontation and no viable political roadmap in sight, the population is increasingly relying on local civil initiatives and protest movements to assert agency in a volatile environment.

“The Israeli government claims these are preventative operations,” colonel Abu Mohammed Qutini told SyriacPress. “But the lack of transparency, the civilian casualties, and the increasing aggression suggest a deeper agenda tied to reshaping post-conflict Syria’s southern border reality.”

The call for independent investigations into both the military incursions and the security policies governing Daraa and Quneitra continues to grow, with activists urging the international community to monitor and intervene diplomatically.

As Israel’s operations in Syrian territory persist and civilian protests in Daraa expand, the Syrian government’s ability to guarantee basic security and sovereignty faces renewed scrutiny. Analysts warn that unless international actors, including the UN and EU, re-engage with the southern file, the region risks falling further into a cycle of lawlessness and proxy confrontation.

The growing unrest is a sign that public patience is wearing thin. And with southern Syria standing at the intersection of geopolitical rivalries, local voices are making one thing clear: their desire to reclaim dignity, security, and self-determination.