QUNEITRA, Syria — In the provincial capital of Quneitra in southern Syria, key routes have been obstructed by heaps of dirt, toppled palm trees, and a disused metal pole that may have once served as a traffic light. Not far from these fortifications, an Israeli tank was seen moving around the streets.
Following the recent downfall of President Bashar Assad last month amid the protracted civil war that has lasted over a decade, Israeli forces swiftly entered the region. This area is part of a U.N.-monitored buffer zone in the Golan Heights, established via a ceasefire agreement between Syria and Israel in 1974.
In addition to operations within the buffer zone, Israeli troops have breached Syrian territory, prompting backlash from local inhabitants. Residents have reported that Israeli forces have razed homes and obstructed farmers’ access to their fields in various locations. On at least two occasions, there have been reports of Israeli soldiers firing on demonstrators who approached them.
Frustration permeates the residents of Quneitra, a picturesque region dotted with small villages and olive trees, stemming from both Israeli encroachments and a perceived inaction from Syria’s new leadership and the international community.
Rinata Fastas, a local resident, noted that while Israeli forces had invaded government buildings, they had not yet entered residential areas. Her home is located within the newly fenced-off section of the provincial capital, which had previously been known as Baath City and has since been renamed Salam City.
Fastas expressed concerns that Israeli forces could push deeper into the area or attempt to establish a lasting presence. Israel continues to maintain control over the Golan Heights, a key strategic plateau that overlooks northern Israel, which it captured from Syria during the Six-Day War in 1967 and later annexed, a move deemed illegal by much of the international community, with the exception of the U.S.
She acknowledged the challenges faced by Syria, noting that the nation is currently focused on rebuilding its military and institutional framework, leaving it in no position to confront Israel militarily.
“Why is no one from the new Syrian leadership speaking out about the violations occurring in Quneitra and the rights of its inhabitants?” she questioned.
Israeli officials categorize their operations in Syria as defensive measures aimed at countering Iranian-backed forces, which predate Assad’s ousting. They express concerns over preventing border incidents similar to the Hamas-led offensive that ignited the recent war in Gaza. Additionally, they remain cautious of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the principal faction in Syria’s emerging governance structure, which had prior links to al-Qaida but has since distanced itself.
Gideon Saar, Israel’s foreign minister, recently denounced Syria’s new administration as a “terrorist gang,” stating that several nations are inclined to recognize the new government primarily to facilitate the return of their refugees.
The United Nations has criticized Israel for breaching the 1974 ceasefire by entering the buffer zone. In response, the Israeli military asserted its commitment to the principle of the agreement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Israeli forces will remain in Syria “until a new arrangement that guarantees Israel’s security is established.” He made these comments while situated on the snowy summit of Mount Hermon, the highest peak in Syria, which is currently under Israeli control.
Syria’s new government has formally raised concerns with the U.N. Security Council about Israeli airstrikes and territorial incursions. However, addressing these issues does not seem to be a priority for the new Syrian authorities as they seek to solidify their control, reorganize disparate former rebel groups into a cohesive national army, and advocate for the lifting of Western sanctions.
The de facto leader of Syria, Ahmad al-Sharaa, who heads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has gone on record stating that Syria is not seeking military conflict with Israel and will not pose a threat to neighboring countries or the West.
Amid this backdrop, the residents of Quneitra find themselves largely on their own. In the village of Rafid, within the buffer zone, locals reported that Israeli military forces had demolished two civilian homes and a grove, in addition to a former Syrian army compound.
Omar Mahmoud Ismail, the mayor of Rafid, recounted that when Israeli forces arrived in his village, an officer greeted him with “I am your friend.” Ismail replied, “You are not my friend, and if you were, you wouldn’t enter like this.”
Following a protest against Israeli incursions, locals recounted that they were met with gunfire from Israeli soldiers. In Dawaya, a village outside the buffer zone, 18-year-old Abdelrahman Khaled al-Aqqa lay in his home recovering from gunshot wounds he sustained during a demonstration where approximately 100 residents chanted for freedom and called for Israel’s withdrawal.
He stated, “We were unarmed, simply present in our everyday clothes. But when we approached, they started shooting.” Six individuals were injured during the protest, according to local accounts and media reports.
The Israeli military claimed that during the incident, they fired “warning shots solely aimed at the air” when protesters disregarded their orders to stay back. Similarly, in the village of Maariyah, another man was injured in a comparable incident.
In the village of Swisah, a local religious official named Adel Subhi al-Ali sat alongside his son, Moutasem, who was recovering from a gunshot wound to the stomach inflicted during the December 25 protest. Moutasem had to be transported first to a local medical facility without the required resources, then to Damascus for surgery.
Feeling the encroachment of Israeli tanks, al-Ali stated, “We felt we had to defend our land, even without weapons. It is inconceivable for them to establish a presence here.” He mentioned that the Israeli military has not returned to the vicinity since the protest.
Al-Ali urged the international community to exert pressure on Israel to adhere to the agreements established with the former Syrian regime, specifically referring to the 1974 ceasefire, and to return the Golan Heights to Syrian sovereignty. However, he recognized the limited leverage Syria currently possesses, declaring, “We are starting from zero; we need to establish a state.” He emphasized that Syria is currently ill-equipped to initiate conflict with another nation.
