Israeli forces detain over 200 people in southern Syria, tracking group says

The Israeli army has arrested more than 200 people in southern Syria since December 2024, France 24 reported, citing figures from the Sijil Centre. The Sijil Centre, which tracks Israeli activity in Syria, reported that the detentions took place following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. The Israeli military stated that it is targeting individuals it describes as suspected terrorists, while witnesses denounced the detentions as arbitrary. [1]

Former detainees and their relatives have raised serious concerns over the conditions inside detention facilities, France 24 reported. Tasnim reported that Israeli forces abducted a young man in southern Syria during recent incursions into the area. In addition, Dawn and TRT World both reported that foreign governments have strongly condemned the actions, with Pakistan and Türkiye calling for an end to Israeli incursions in southern Syria and demanding a full withdrawal. [1][2][4][5]

Following the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024, Israel invaded the demilitarized buffer zone in southwestern Syria and has continued to occupy the region. Israel also launched an airstrike campaign against the Syrian Armed Forces and demanded that Syrian forces remain out of southern Syria, stating that the measures were designed to prevent potential threats from post-war Syria. [6][7]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, regional tensions along Syria's borders have remained high. Recent military actions in neighboring areas included an Israeli drone strike in the Hermel district near the Syrian border in Lebanon that wounded six people, including five Syrian nationals and one Lebanese citizen. [8]

The United Nations Security Council convened to discuss Syria's political transition, UN News reported. Discussions focused on the country's economic strain, ongoing Israeli incursions, and preparations for upcoming elections. [3]