Israeli forces carried out a series of raids and incursions in southern Syria early on Saturday, abducting three civilians within hours in what local sources described as a new escalation of military activity inside Syrian territory.
Sources told The New Arab’s sister outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that an Israeli force stormed the town of Kodna in the Quneitra countryside, raiding several homes before abducting two residents, who they did not name.
The operation coincided with further Israeli movements in western Daraa province, where troops advanced after midnight into the Yarmouk Basin area and deployed in the village of Hamatta.
Israeli forces carried out searches of civilian homes and set up a military checkpoint on the outskirts of the nearby village of Jamla, restricting the movement of residents.
During the raid in Hamatta, Israeli forces abducted Ahmad al-Ruwai’i, known as Abu Rakan, a man in his fifties, after taking him from his home. The forces later withdrew from the area, taking him to an unknown location.
According to local sources, the Israeli force included more than 15 military vehicles, which entered through the Tal Abu al-Ghaithar gate along the separation line with the occupied Golan Heights before moving towards Wadi al-Raqad.
The troops then deployed inside Hamatta and around Jamla in what sources described as “a clear military show of force” and a continuation of ground incursions.
The latest escalation is part of a pattern of repeated Israeli assaults in southern Syria in recent months, including raids and abductions targeting civilians, with no official explanation provided for the activities.
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Israeli forces have launched raids and incursions beyond the occupied Golan Heights and seized Syrian territory.
The moves have been described as a “land grab”, with Israel acting to erode Syrian sovereignty in the south west of the country.
Night-time incursions, temporary checkpoints and arrests have become increasingly common, raising concerns among residents that such operations could become a permanent reality in the region.
In a recent statement, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said that efforts to reach a security agreement with Israel had faltered, blaming Israeli expansionism.
“The security agreement with Israel has stalled due to Israel’s expansionist ambitions,” he said, adding that continued Israeli violations of Syrian sovereignty, including airspace incursions and ground operations, had obstructed US mediation.
