Israeli forces entered the Quneitra area of the occupied Golan Heights and established two checkpoints in Ain Ziwan and al-Ajraf, according to Al Jazeera and Syrian state media. Syrian authorities say five Israeli military vehicles were used and view the move as a breach of sovereignty. The operation follows near-daily incursions across southern Syria; ACLED records more than 600 strikes in the past year. Damascus and Jerusalem are reportedly engaged in talks to halt air raids while the US pushes to revive the 1974 disengagement agreement.
Israeli Forces Advance Into Quneitra, Erect Military Checkpoints in Occupied Golan Heights
Vehicles drive away from territory occupied by Israel where wind turbines stand, down a road strewn with roadblocks and war damage in Quneitra governorate, Syria [File: Ed Ram/Getty Images]
Israeli forces moved into Syria's Quneitra area of the occupied Golan Heights on Saturday and established two military checkpoints in the villages of Ain Ziwan and al-Ajraf, an Al Jazeera correspondent on the ground reported.
What Happened
Syria's state television described the incursion as a violation of Syrian sovereignty and said five Israeli military vehicles were used to set up the checkpoint in Ain Ziwan. The operation follows near-daily Israeli incursions into southern Syria over recent months, during which forces have carried out arrests, erected checkpoints and bulldozed land.
Recent Movements and Local Response
According to the Syrian News Agency (SANA), the raid came one day after Israeli units advanced toward the towns of al-Asha, Bir Ajam, Bariqa, Umm al-Azam and Ruwayhina in southern Quneitra. Dozens of residents protested the incursions on Friday in the city of al-Salam, carrying banners under the banner “Syrians with Palestine” and calling the moves repeated violations of Syrian land and property.
Scope And Context
Though large-scale direct confrontations have reportedly eased, Israel continues to conduct air raids that have hit Syrian army sites and at times caused civilian casualties. The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) recorded more than 600 air, drone or artillery strikes across Syria in the past year—an average of nearly two attacks per day.
Claims From Syrian OfficialsSyrian officials say incursions have intensified since the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. In September, President Ahmed al-Sharaa told state media that Israel had conducted more than 1,000 air strikes and over 400 ground incursions in Syria since al-Assad's removal, a tally described as "very dangerous."
Diplomacy And Next Steps
After al-Assad's departure, Israel declared the 1974 Disengagement Agreement void; that agreement had created a UN-patrolled buffer zone along the ceasefire line. Syrian officials accuse Israel of violating the buffer by advancing deeper into Syrian-held territory. Damascus and Jerusalem are reportedly in talks aimed at halting Israeli air raids and securing the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Syria, while the United States is pressing diplomatic channels to restore elements of the 1974 deal.
Sources: Al Jazeera correspondent reporting from Quneitra, Syrian state television, SANA, ACLED, and statements from Syrian officials.
