Intensified Israeli Military Operations in Southwestern Syria Raise Tensions
Israeli ground forces have escalated their military activities in southwestern Syria, a significant shift in the longstanding tensions along the occupied Golan Heights. Recent incursions into rural areas near Damascus and the Quneitra governorate highlight an increasing direct military presence inside Syrian territory, reports 24brussels.
Syrian media, including Syria TV, reported that on Monday an Israeli contingent of 11 military vehicles and over 60 soldiers entered the Beit Jann area. This operation saw the seizure of Tel Bat al-Warda hill, a strategic point on the slopes of Mount Hermon, crucial for its location bordering Syria, Lebanon, and Israel.
While no casualties were reported, the incursion involved gunfire and a visible troop deployment, indicating the aggressive nature of the operation. Beit Jann, a mountainous town southwest of Damascus, has experienced sporadic clashes in previous years, with Mount Hermon serving as a vital military asset due to its elevation.
In addition to operations in Beit Jann, Israeli forces reportedly entered the village of Abdeen near the occupied Syrian Golan with six vehicles. On August 19, they advanced from Tal al-Ahmar towards Kodna and Ain Ziwan in Quneitra’s countryside, engaging in gunfire, attacking motorcycles, and searching civilian homes.
Israeli troops also momentarily occupied the abandoned Qaws al-Naba’a brigade headquarters, conducting a search before withdrawing to a government building in Quneitra. These actions occur against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions, reflecting Israel’s broader strategy of asserting territorial control, often justified by the alleged presence of Iranian forces and Hezbollah operatives in Syria.
This tactical escalation marks a significant shift from Israel’s traditional reliance on airstrikes, alarming international observers. The Golan Heights, seized by Israel in 1967 and unilaterally annexed in 1981—an act not recognized internationally—remains a contentious area. While Israel claims its actions are defensive, aimed at preventing hostile military entrenchment near its borders, Syria and its allies consider these incursions violations of its sovereignty and international law.
