Israeli raids and detentions in southern Syria strain local population

Israeli military forces have conducted raids and arrests in southern Syria, according to reports by Al Jazeera and Yahoo. Anadolu Agency reported that 10 Israeli military vehicles advanced near a dam in the region, while Shafaq News also confirmed that Israeli forces staged raids. Arab News reported that Syrian state media said Israeli troops burned a house and a feed warehouse in southern Syria. [1][2][3][4][5]

A survivor named Ahmed told Al Jazeera that he was detained at an Israeli checkpoint in his Syrian village and spent more than a year in an Israeli prison. He described enduring beatings, physical restraints, and psychological abuse during his detention, including spending 90 days in handcuffs. The New Arab reported that Syria has rejected what it called the Israeli politicisation of the Druze community in Suweida. [1][6]

Israel invaded and occupied the demilitarized buffer zone in southwestern Syria following the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024. The Assad family had governed Syria from 1971 until the regime was overthrown by a rebel offensive led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham. Israeli officials stated that their military actions were intended to prevent any potential threat from post-war Syria. [7][8]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, the Sijil Centre tracked more than 200 arrests by Israeli forces in southern Syria after December 2024. The Israeli military previously stated that its actions in the area target suspected terrorists, though foreign governments including Pakistan and Türkiye have called for a military withdrawal. [9]