📰 Israeli Gunfire Sparks Tensions in Khan Arnaba, Civilians Wounded Amid Rising Escalation

Tensions are running high in the town of Khan Arnaba in Quneitra countryside following an incident in which Israeli occupation troops reportedly opened fire on civilians, wounding multiple. as per Syria TV’s correspondent, Israeli troops had established temporary armed forces checkpoints on key roads around Khan Arnaba, including routes linking Jubata al-Khashab to Arnaba and the Damascus–Khan Arnaba highway, as part of an armoured patrol involving armed forces vehicles and Humvees. The deployment prompted local residents to gather in protest. Israeli troops responded with live fire, injuring at least three civilians, though early reports had varied on the number of wounded. Indeed, the victims were identified as: Basel Kassem al-Khatib, 21, from Othman (Daraa), sustained facial injuries from shrapnel near Al-Hamidiya village.

Abdul Nasser Muhammad al-Bakr, 52, from Al-Koum, was shot in the right thigh. Muhammad Ahmed al-Debak, 25, from Khan Arnaba, also suffered a gunshot wound to the right thigh. All three were transferred to Golan National Hospital for treatment. The incident triggered a wave of local mobilisation, with residents chanting anti-occupation slogans, including historical and religious references such as “Khaybar, Khaybar, ya Yahud. ” Syrian internal security forces (General Security) reportedly entered the area following the incident, coordinating their passage through Israeli military checkpoints.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) later described the incident as a response to a “riot” near a checkpoint along the Damascus–Quneitra highway. No Israeli casualties were declared, and occupation forces withdrew shortly afterwards. Renewed Aggression and Growing Tensions This latest incident follows a broader pattern of increasing Israeli military activity in southern Syria, which has intensified since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. Just days earlier, an Israeli airstrike in the same region reportedly targeted civilians, heightening fears among residents of further escalation and the long-term relief toll.

Beit Jin Massacre A week prior, Israeli forces carried out what has been widely described as a massacre in Beit Jin, a town located in the foothills of Mount Hermon in Damascus countryside. The attack left 13 civilians dead and around 25 others injured. In fact, following the incident, Israel’s Channel 13 declared that the IDF was considering shifting to an “aerial assassination” strategy in Syria in response to what it labelled as ongoing “security threats. ” The proposal came after six Israeli soldiers were injured during clashes in Beit Jin. Quoting informed sources, the channel added: “This event is expected to alter operational tactics to minimise direct exposure of…