Israeli forces have established a presence in an abandoned Syrian army base located in the village of Maariyah, preventing local farmers from accessing their fields, according to residents. The village, situated on the western edge of Syria's southern Daraa province near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, falls outside the buffer zone established by a 1974 ceasefire agreement between Syria and Israel.
Residents reported that Israeli troops had penetrated approximately 1 kilometer into the village, demanding the surrender of any weapons, which the villagers claimed not to possess. The Israeli military has restricted farming activities and movement within the area, prompting calls from residents for the United Nations to intervene and remove the occupation.
Local officials expressed discontent with the Israeli presence, with one official mentioning the arrival of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a prominent insurgent group, as a source of relief before Israel's intervention. The Israeli military stated that its operations in the buffer zone and surrounding areas aim to safeguard Israel's northern border but refrained from specifying deployment locations.
Israel's seizure of a portion of southern Syria following the ousting of Syrian President Bashar Assad has drawn criticism for allegedly violating the 1974 ceasefire and exploiting the Syrian conflict to expand territory. The capture of the buffer zone, a demilitarized area within Syrian territory, has raised concerns among international observers.
Residents and dignitaries from Quneitra province issued a statement condemning the forced displacement of villagers by Israeli forces, urging the withdrawal of troops from vital facilities in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that Israeli forces will remain in the area until a security arrangement is established.
Netanyahu's remarks were made from Mount Hermon, located inside Syria approximately 10 kilometers from the Golan Heights border. The situation continues to evolve as tensions persist between Israeli forces and local residents in the affected areas.
