Israeli forces carried out a new incursion into southern Syria on Sunday, as tensions continue to escalate along the frontier regions of Daraa Governorate and Quneitra Governorate amid repeated military operations, alleged war crimes and accusations of violations of Syrian sovereignty.
An Israeli force consisting of three tanks and two military vehicles advanced into the border area of Wadi al-Raqad in western Daraa countryside, according to the Syrian state news agency SANA. The incursion force then conducted sweeping operations near the village of Jamlah before withdrawing.
Local outlet Ahrar Horan said one of its correspondents came under fire from Israeli military vehicles during the incursion into the villages of Maariyah, Abidin and Jamlah.
The force positioned itself near a stadium in the town of Abidin before returning toward Wadi al-Raqad and withdrawing into the occupied territories through the Tal Abu al-Ghithar gate, the outlet said.
The operation comes amid ongoing incursions in southern Syria.
Monitoring group Sijil Centre documented at least 49 Israeli violations in Daraa and Quneitra over the past week, including four kidnappings of local residents. Political researcher Anas al-Khatib told The New Arab that "the Israeli movements are based on a methodology that uses force as a tool of pressure".
He added that the lack of international pressure had given Israel "freedom of movement to violate norms and continue its violations in southern Syria", describing the US role in limiting the incursions as "symbolic" despite Washington’s mediation efforts between Syria and Israel.
On Saturday, three Israeli tanks also reportedly entered Tal al-Durayyat west of the town of al-Muallaqa in Quneitra countryside before later withdrawing.
The repeated military movements come as areas near the disengagement line separating Syria and the occupied Golan Heights witness continuing incursions, shelling, and Israeli air activity.
Tel Aviv says the operations fall within its security measures, while Damascus has repeatedly condemned them as violations of Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Addressing the UN Security Council on Friday, UN deputy envoy to Syria Claudio Cordone said Israeli incursions and military operations in Daraa and Quneitra "violate Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity".
He called on Israel to halt the violations and comply with the 1974 disengagement agreement.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International last week called for an investigation into what it described as Israel’s deliberate destruction of civilian homes in Quneitra province, saying the acts could constitute "war crimes".
The organisation said the destruction carried out by Israeli forces had taken place without "absolute military necessity" and represented serious violations of international humanitarian law requiring compensation.
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Israel has expanded its military presence in southern Syria through repeated incursions, seizures of territory near the disengagement line, and intensified airstrikes targeting military sites and infrastructure.