Israeli troops, 'archeologists' encroach deeper into south Syria
As Syrians in the south face displacement and arbitrary detentions by the invading army, Syria's de facto new rulers stress that they want no part in 'any conflict'
The Israeli military continued its illegal encroachment of Syrian territory on 18 December, displacing locals and threatening archaeological sites with their advance into the Quneitra and Deraa countrysides.
According to local sources that spoke with Al Mayadeen, “archaeological experts in Israeli military uniforms” are accompanying the invading troops into Quneitra's ancient sites, including the historic town of Breqa.
Furthermore, as of Wednesday, the Israeli army is reportedly situated only 12 kilometers away from the international road that connects Damascus to the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
The Israeli army has also detained residents in Syria's south, interrogating them for hours and seizing mobile phones and ID cards.
“Israeli forces have advanced significantly, particularly in villages like Beit Jinn, Saida, and Al-Maqraz near the Daraa–Quneitra administrative border, and towards Koya and Al-Mariya near Jordan. Residents in these areas reported being coerced to surrender weapons, with threats of military raids and curfews imposed,” Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar reported on Wednesday.
Since the fall of the Syrian government to Turkish and US-backed extremists earlier this month, Israel has taken control of about 440 square kilometers of Syrian territory, in direct violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement with Damascus.
Tel Aviv faces no opposition from Syria's de facto rulers, who say the “new Syria” will not be hostile to Israel.
“We are committed to the 1974 agreement and we are prepared to return the UN [monitors]. We do not want any conflict whether with Israel or anyone else and we will not let Syria be used as a launchpad for attacks. The Syrian people need a break, and the strikes must end and Israel has to pull back to its previous positions,” Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmad al-Sharaa – who recently dropped his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Julani – told The Times on Monday.
“We must complete fortifications and defensive measures on Mount Hermon, anticipating a long-term stay,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday. Similarly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated this week, “The Golan Heights will forever remain an integral part of Israel.”
The Israeli aggression and occupation of southern Syria, backed by the US, has devastated the country's military capabilities. Over the past week, hundreds of airstrikes destroyed nearly all of the Syrian air defenses, radar systems, research centers, and weapons depots.