Daraa / Quneitra, July 26, (SANA)The fall of the ousted regime on December 8, 2024, marked a pivotal turning point that reshaped the security landscape in southern Syria. Only hours after the announcement of the country’s liberation, Israeli occupation authorities moved to withdraw from the1974 Disengagement Agreement, in a step that represented a significant shift in the rules of engagement that had existed between the two sides for decades.

The shift quickly translated into developments on the ground, as Israeli occupation forces launched wide-ranging attacks targeting military facilities, weapons depots, and multiple strategic sites, alongside a ground incursion into the buffer zone established under the Disengagement Agreement. The forces also established at least nine military bases, most of them in Quneitra province, which are used as launching points for incursions into Syrian territory.

Israeli incursions: A daily reality in the Daraa and Quneitra countryside

As the country entered a new phase, Syrians hoped that peace would define this period. However, this path was confronted by a different reality imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities, which left southern Syria caught between the aspirations of a population seeking recovery and repeated incursions that continue to delay the return of stability.

These moves are no longer limited to temporary military operations but have become a daily reality affecting life in the countryside of Daraa and Quneitra. After entering Syrian territory, Israeli military vehicles began carrying out sweeping operations, demolitions, and the establishment of temporary military positions, leaving behind villages burdened by anxiety, lands affected by repeated violations, and residents awaiting the next incursion.

The expansion of these activities is reflected in documentation by theSyrian Network for Human Rights(SNHR), which told SANA that it had recorded more than 403 ground incursions carried out by Israeli occupation forces since December 8, 2024, affecting dozens of villages and towns in Daraa and Quneitra provinces.

According to SNHR, these operations were not limited to military deployment but were accompanied by home raids, the detention of civilians, agricultural land bulldozing, house demolitions, road construction, and the establishment of military bases and sites. The network said these developments indicate a gradual shift in the nature of the incursions, from limited operations into a more established military presence inside Syrian territory.

Director of the SNHRFadel Abdulghanysaid these measures have restricted many residents’ ability to access their lands and sources of livelihood, creating a continued state of fear and instability. He added that they also resulted in the displacement of families after their homes were demolished or seized and they were prevented from returning to their properties.

In his legal assessment of these practices, Abdulghany said that documented home demolitions require investigation as they may amount to war crimes, while some documented cases of forced displacement could constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.

In the same context, Amnesty International published a report stating that Israeli occupation forces destroyed or damaged at least 23 civilian buildings in three villages in Quneitra province since December 2024. The report was based on satellite imagery analysis, as well as testimonies from residents and video footage collected during the investigation.

Humanitarian consequences and violations against civilians

The consequences of Israeli incursions have extended beyond military developments, directly affecting civilian life. SNHR documented the killing of at least 29 people, including three children and one woman, in addition to 147 cases of kidnapping and arbitrary detention, including 19 children. Of those detained, 103 were released, while the fate of 44 others remains unknown.

As part of rights-related efforts, Abdulghany said the network’s reports and statements included calls directed at the UN Security Council, the Human Rights Council, the United Nations, and states party to the Geneva Conventions to halt Israeli attacks on Syrian territory and reveal the fate of detainees.

He added that the network recommended expanding the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), so that its role would not be limited to monitoring implementation of the agreement but would also include documenting violations against civilians, including detention cases and raids.

Regarding the international response, Abdulghany described it as “limited,” explaining that it was confined to condemning the Israeli military presence in the buffer zone and affirming that military activities there violate the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, without taking practical steps or establishing an independent mechanism for investigation and accountability.

Incursions as part of a colonial policy to impose a new reality

Military analyst Brigadier General Asaad al-Zoubi said Israeli occupation authorities’ incursions and violations in southern Syria fall within what he described as a “colonialpolicy” pursued by Israel in the region, aimed at imposing new realities on the ground. He explained that the incursions initially came as a test of residents’ reactions while also carrying a provocative character.

Al-Zoubi added that the continued Israeli military presence inside Syrian territory is intended, in his assessment, to impose a fait accompli pending an understanding or security agreement with the Syrian government that would reorganize the situation based on the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

He noted that the military positions established by Israeli forces may appear temporary but could remain for relatively long periods, explaining that they serve as advanced defensive lines that provide greater protection for Israeli forces and enhance their surveillance and operational capabilities.

Regarding the Israeli deployment on Mount Hermon, al-Zoubi said the location holds major strategic importance due to its overlooking of large areas of the Syrian hinterland, as well as parts of Lebanese territory. He noted that the buffer zone in this area extends approximately 12 kilometers, considering control of the summit an advanced position inside Syrian territory.

Politically, al-Zoubi said Israel, in his words, “knows only the policy of imposing realities,” noting that the Syrian government focused from the first day on establishing security and stability across the country, while Israel, according to his assessment, sought to support groups inside Syria to destabilize security and stability. He stressed that the diplomatic path pursued by the state remains the best option for addressing this issue.

Damascus maintains diplomatic approach in confronting Israeli violations

As the Syrian state begins a new chapter in its history, it remains committed to a diplomatic approach based on the principles of international law and the UN Charter. Damascus is using legal and diplomatic channels to address issues related to sovereignty, security, and stability.

This approach has not been limited to public statements but has been reflected in ongoing diplomatic efforts, including the arrival of UN Secretary-General António Guterres in Damascus on Saturday following an invitation from the Syrian government. The United Nations said the visit would serve as an opportunity to renew its commitment to supporting Syria and its people during this phase and to emphasize the importance of respecting Syria’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.

Guterres is also expected during the visit to inspect the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), bringing renewed attention to the situation in southern Syria and the UN role in monitoring security arrangements related to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

In the same context, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has repeatedly affirmed, during various occasions and international forums, that Israeli violations in southern Syria are among the priorities of Syrian diplomatic efforts. He called on the international community to assume its responsibilities in protecting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to put an end to ongoing Israeli attacks.

The latest of these positions came during his recent meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Damascus, where he stressed the need for France to play a more active role in supporting efforts to halt Israeli violations and strengthen stability in southern Syria.

Delayed stability amid continued escalation

Between a Syrian approach based on diplomacy and adherence to international law, and an Israeli approach relying on imposing realities through force, southern Syria remains caught between two conflicting paths: one seeking to consolidate security and open the way toward recovery, and another perpetuating tension and delaying prospects for stability.

With no indications of an end to these violations, villages in Daraa and Quneitra continue to face daily challenges, as the sound of military vehicles has become part of everyday life and anticipation of the next incursion has become a constant concern, reflecting the scale of obstacles still facing southern Syria on its path toward security and stability.