Israeli patrols enter Quneitra villages, triggering local protests
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Tensions rose in the southern countryside of Quneitra on Saturday after Israeli army patrols entered several villages, sparking local protests that were met with gunfire in the air from Israeli forces, according to local sources.
A local source told North Press that a patrol of several Israeli military vehicles entered the village of Saida al-Hanout in southern Quneitra, prompting dozens of residents to take to the streets in protest of the patrol’s presence. The source said that Israeli soldiers fired shots into the air to disperse the demonstrators, but no injuries were reported.
The same source added that in Ruwayhina, a village in the central countryside of Quneitra, another Israeli patrol consisting of four military vehicles set up a temporary checkpoint. The soldiers reportedly stopped passersby, checked their identification cards, and inspected vehicles before withdrawing later in the day.
Earlier in the morning, Israeli forces were also seen advancing toward al-Samadaniyah al-Sharqiyah, east of Quneitra city, using heavy armored vehicles in what local residents described as a limited incursion accompanied by heightened alert along the border adjacent to the occupied Golan Heights.
According to local accounts, the Israeli army’s movements caused significant unrest among residents who fear potential escalations near their villages. Civilians expressed anger over what they described as repeated violations of Syrian sovereignty, demanding that the incursions stop.
Israeli military patrols have occasionally crossed into Syrian-held territory in the Quneitra region over recent months, often citing “security inspections” along the demarcation line. However, such actions have frequently triggered civilian opposition and raised tensions between local communities and Israeli forces.
As of Saturday evening, no official Syrian or Israeli military statements had been issued regarding the latest movements or the subsequent civilian protests.