Israeli Military Steps Up Southern Syria Operations

 

Israeli incursions in southern Syria have surged sharply in recent weeks, with more than 30 incidents recorded in the first half of November, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported.

The Britain based monitoring group said on Saturday that Israeli forces carried out ground penetrations, detained both civilians and soldiers, bulldozed roads and farmland, and set up temporary military checkpoints across Quneitra and Daraa provinces. SOHR described the uptick as an “unprecedented surge,” noting that the operations have unfolded “in the absence of any formal response” from Damascus, according to Xinhua news agency.

The organization said these raids and daily cross border violations highlight “mounting security challenges along the southern border,” where Israeli forces have strengthened their presence since late 2024.

Israel has repeatedly warned that southern Syria must not be allowed to turn into “another southern Lebanon” and has threatened “painful blows” against armed factions or Syrian troops approaching the frontier. By mid-2025, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had established at least nine permanent outposts inside Syrian territory and created a 15-kilometre “zone of control,” SOHR said.

The escalation intensified in July after a series of Israeli strikes and ground raids following clashes in the Druze-majority province of Sweida. Israel stated it would continue to “operate forcefully” until all “perceived threats” were neutralised.

The mounting tensions have drawn condemnation from the United Nations, Egypt, and Türkiye, all of whom accuse Israel of violating Syrian sovereignty. Israeli officials, however, insist their actions are defensive, arguing that Syrian authorities lack full command over the country’s southern region.