In the early hours of Thursday, 8 January, Israeli military units apprehended four young men in the Quneitra countryside of southwestern Syria. A local journalist, who spoke to Enab Baladi on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, reported that the detentions took place on the road linking Jubata al-Khashab and Ain al-Bayda after the military established a temporary checkpoint in the vicinity.
According to the journalist, the checkpoint was set up at approximately 11:30 p.m. Israeli troops stopped and searched various individuals traveling the road, initially allowing them to pass. However, four young men, aged between 18 and 22, who were traveling on two motorcycles, were stopped and subsequently taken into custody. The reasons for their arrest remain unknown, and their current location has not been disclosed.
Family members of the detained youths arrived at the scene of the checkpoint at roughly 2:00 a.m., only to find the two motorcycles abandoned. By that time, the Israeli forces had already pulled out of the area. As of this report, the four individuals remain in detention.
Infrastructure Destruction and Recent Incursions
These latest arrests occurred just two days after the conclusion of the fifth round of Syrian-Israeli negotiations in Paris on 6 January. During those talks, both parties had reached an agreement to immediately cease all Israeli military operations within Syrian territory. Despite this, on the same day the talks ended, the Israeli army demolished the “Old Golan Hospital” (al-Hajar) in the ruins of Quneitra city.
Journalist Nour Golan described the hospital as a vital architectural landmark and a historic symbol of the devastation the city endured between 1967 and 1974. The building’s remains served as a testament to the systematic destruction of Quneitra following the evacuation of its inhabitants. Furthermore, on 6 January, Israeli military vehicles entered several towns in the Quneitra countryside, supported by heavy reconnaissance drone activity.
Nour Golan noted that a force of approximately 12 vehicles entered Sida Golan, deploying troops and establishing a checkpoint at the western entrance. Soldiers also conducted searches within the town, including at least one private residence. Additionally, Israeli forces stationed at a base in Hamidiyah opened fire directly toward civilian homes, though no casualties were reported at that time.
Chronology of Ongoing Border Violations
Residents and local observers describe recent actions in Quneitra and Daraa as consistent breaches of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. The past several weeks have seen a sharp rise in military incursions and attacks on civilians.
December 2025 Incidents
- 24 December: An Israeli drone bombed the al-Mantara Dam. This was accompanied by illumination flares over Tal Kroum and smoke-bomb strikes that impacted women and children gathering mushrooms between al-Qahtaniyah and Ruwayhina.
- 25 December: Troops fired on civilians near Asha. Meanwhile, patrols entered Ain Ziwan, Kudna, and Suwaysah, where they searched travelers and restricted movement. Work also continued on military fortifications at western Tal al-Ahmar.
- 27–28 December: Israeli forces targeted eastern Tal al-Ahmar with machine-gun fire. A unit comprising six vehicles and an armored carrier entered Jubata al-Khashab.
- 30 December: A shepherd was shot and detained in Asha. A large convoy of roughly 100 personnel moved from western to eastern Tal al-Ahmar under drone surveillance, while temporary checkpoints were active between Ain Ziwan and Kudna.
- 31 December: Machine-gun fire and flares were again directed at eastern Tal al-Ahmar. Temporary checkpoints were reported near Ruwayhina and al-Mushayrifah, and another resident was detained in Asha.
January 2026 Incidents
On 1 January, Israeli troops fired upon civilians herding livestock and foraging for mushrooms near Rafid, resulting in the death of several animals. This followed a patrol entry from al-Adnaniyah. On 2 January, Israeli forces advanced toward the Jamlah Company site in the Yarmouk Basin before retreating. By 3 January, eight military vehicles were documented entering Bariqa and Old Bariqa.
These military actions, including detentions and shelling, have persisted in southern Syria since the collapse of the previous government in December 2024, placing ongoing pressure and restrictions on the local population.
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