Residents in southern Syria’s Quneitra province fear Israel is preparing to establish a new military base after troops brought in prefabricated structures and intensified incursions across the area in recent days.
Israeli forces advanced again on Saturday into the northern countryside of Quneitra, setting up a temporary checkpoint on a road between Tarnaja and Mazareh al-Amal before withdrawing, according to local sources.
Activist Mohammed Abu Hashish told The New Arab that "a force of several Israeli military vehicles set up a temporary checkpoint and searched passers-by before withdrawing".
The development came hours after another incursion into southern Quneitra, where a bulldozer and three trucks carrying prefabricated units were deployed on Friday evening to the Tal al-Ahmar al-Sharqi area.
The move has raised concerns among residents that Israel’s "ultimate aim is to establish a new military point in the area", particularly as Israeli forces have increased patrols, conducted repeated shelling, and raised their flag over the site in recent weeks.
Israel already maintains a military presence on the nearby Tal al-Ahmar al-Gharbi hill, which it has used as a base since late 2024. The location is considered strategically significant due to its position within the buffer zone along the border fence.
Further incursions were reported in central Quneitra province, where Israeli patrols entered al-Samadaniyah village and established a checkpoint on the main road linking it to al-Ajraf, according to the Quneitra Media Directorate.
Another advance took place along the road between al-Samadaniyah al-Sharqiyah and al-Ajraf, where troops again set up a temporary checkpoint and searched civilians.
Israeli forces also took up position in an abandoned house on the outskirts of a nearby hill throughout Friday.
In recent days, United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) troops have deployed near several villages in southern Quneitra to conduct monitoring patrols along the ceasefire line with the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, following repeated appeals from residents for protection amid a rise in Israeli arrests and violations targeting civilians.
Since the fall of the Assad regime, Israeli forces have established nine illegal military bases across southern Syria, which they use as launch points for operations and incursions.
These are spread across Daraa province, including a monitoring point on the slopes of Mount Hermon, as well as bases in Taloul al-Humr al-Gharbi, Jabata al-Khashab, Qurs al-Naml, al-Qahtaniyah, Kudna, Abidin and Maariya.