Israeli Patrol Enters Syrian Territory Near Schools, Sparking Student Fears

An Israeli military patrol entered the countryside of Syria's Quneitra province on Tuesday, coinciding with the morning school commute and causing fear among students. Syrian state media reported the incursion, stating the patrol moved towards the village of Zubaida. The report did not specify the number of vehicles involved or how long the patrol remained in the area.

Quneitra province, bordering the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, frequently experiences Israeli incursions. These often include searches of homes and vehicles and the establishment of temporary checkpoints. On Monday evening, Israeli forces also raided homes in the village of Ma'arrat al-Ghazal in western Daraa province, also in southern Syria.

Since the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024, Israel has reportedly expanded its military operations within Syria, advancing into the Golan buffer zone and adjacent areas. Syria demands Israeli withdrawal from these territories, reaffirming its commitment to the 1974 disengagement agreement, while Israel cites security concerns for its actions.

Syrian President Ahmed Al-Shar'a stated before the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that since the regime's collapse, Israel has conducted approximately 500 airstrikes and artillery attacks, over 1,200 ground incursions, and detained around 300 Syrians. Al-Shar'a reiterated Syria's adherence to the 1974 disengagement agreement and called for Israeli forces to withdraw to their December 8, 2024 positions, emphasizing that the Golan remains Syrian territory.