Israeli forces raid Syrian village, set up checkpoint in Quneitra countryside

2026-02-18 - 11:22

Israeli forces entered the village of Ain Zivan in the southern Quneitra countryside on Wednesday, raiding multiple homes and establishing a checkpoint on the village outskirts, according to Syrian Arab News Agency. "An occupation force stormed the village, searched multiple houses, and set up a checkpoint on its outskirts, where troops searched passersby and disrupted movement," SANA reported. Arrest in Adjacent Village The agency also reported that Israeli forces entered the village of Sayda al-Golan in the southern Quneitra countryside and arrested a young man, without providing further details. The incursions mark the latest in a series of Israeli actions since the fall of Bashar Assad's regime on Dec. 8, 2024, after which Tel Aviv unilaterally announced cancellation of the 1974 disengagement agreement—a commitment Damascus says it continues to uphold. Pattern of Incursions Recent Israeli actions have included ground incursions, artillery shelling—particularly in Quneitra and Daraa countryside—civilian arrests, checkpoint establishment, and crop destruction. The operations continue despite the Jan. 6 announcement of a US-supervised contact mechanism between Syria and Israel to coordinate information exchange, reduce military escalation, promote diplomatic engagement, and explore trade opportunities. Impact on Stability Syrians say the continued Israeli actions limit their ability to restore stability and hinder government efforts to attract investment to improve economic conditions. Damascus has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to the 1974 agreement, which Israel declared void.