Israeli incursion in Syria’s Quneitra sparks fears of new occupation
QUNEITRA, Syria (North Press) – Several elders from Quneitra Governorate in southern Syria met on Wednesday with Ori Gordin, commander of the Israeli army’s northern front, following an incursion into the area that has raised alarm among local residents.
According to a source familiar with the meeting, Gordin reassured the elders that the Israeli advance was temporary and intended solely to secure the border.
Despite these assurances, many residents remain concerned, fearing that the incursion “might signal the beginning of a new occupation of areas in Quneitra.”
The source revealed that the Israeli forces had advanced up to four kilometers into Syrian territory from the Golan border. This marks the first time they have moved beyond the demilitarized zone.
Arab and Western media reports claim that the Israeli army has advanced as close as 20 kilometers to Damascus.
The incursion has triggered significant displacement, with numerous families from the town of al-Hurriyah in Quneitra countryside fleeing toward Khan Arnaba city.
The Israeli forces also imposed a curfew on several towns, including al-Hamidiya, al-Hurriya, and Afania.
Since the fall of Assad, Israel has escalated its military operations in Syria, including intensified airstrikes. Following one such operation, Israeli officials declared that they had carried out “the largest air offensive in Israel’s history,” significantly degrading the Syrian army’s capabilities.