The Israeli occupation army launched an attack on areas in western Daraa province in southern Syria early on Monday, according to reports from Syrian media. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) stated that Israeli forces shelled Wadi Abdeen and Wadi Al-Raqad with several artillery rounds. The attack also targeted the outskirts of Jamla village in the Yarmouk Basin area.
In addition to the artillery rounds, Israeli forces also opened fire from one of their positions towards the outskirts of Abdeen town along the 1974 disengagement line. This recent incident is not an isolated event, as Israel continues to violate the 1974 disengagement agreement through repeated incursions into southern Syria. These incursions include raids on and arrests of civilians, land levelling, and other attacks involving artillery fire.
The repeated Israeli incursions into Syrian territory have been strongly condemned by Egypt. The condemnation comes as Israel's actions in southern Syria have raised concerns about the humanitarian situation and the potential for escalation. Furthermore, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria has identified 49 Syrians, including two children, detained by Israeli occupation forces in the country’s south.
The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria has warned that the suspected cross-border transfer of detainees may constitute war crimes. The commission described the Israeli presence in southern Syria as a “belligerent occupation” and noted that recurring incursions, patrols, raids, and searches were increasingly affecting civilians.
Commissioner Fionnuala Ní Aoláin presented the commission’s oral update to the UN Human Rights Council, stating that Israeli military activity in southern Syria had become “increasingly sustained and entrenched.” The commission's findings add a significant legal dimension to Israel’s expanding military presence in Quneitra and Daraa.
Syria has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from its territory, stating that all Israeli measures there are “null and void” and have no legal effect under international law. Damascus has also called on the international community to uphold its responsibilities and press Israel to fully withdraw from southern Syria.
The incident on Monday is part of a larger pattern of tensions between Israel and Syria. The situation remains volatile, with concerns about the potential for further escalation and the humanitarian impact on civilians in southern Syria.
Key points
- Israel's actions in southern Syria have raised concerns about the humanitarian situation and the potential for escalation.
- The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria has warned that the suspected cross-border transfer of detainees may constitute war crimes.
- Syria has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from its territory.
