[News] ‘State of panic’ among locals as Israel expands occupation of south Syria

[Anti-Imperialist News]

 ‘State of panic’ among locals as Israel expands occupation of south Syria

The Israeli army continues to bombard Syria and attack what is left of the
former government’s military infrastructure

News Desk <https://thecradle.co/authors/news-desk-9>

FEB 9, 2025 -
https://thecradle.co/articles/state-of-panic-among-locals-as-israel-expands-occupation-of-south-syria
(Photo credit: Atef Safadi/Shutterstock)

The Israeli army expanded its occupation
<https://www.almayadeen.net/news/politics/%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%84%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86--%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B9-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%BA%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%87-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%B1-%D9%85>
of southern Syria on 9 February, continuing its campaign of destroying
infrastructure belonging to the former Syrian Arab Army (SAA).

The troops pushed into the village of Ain al-Nouriya in the northeastern
countryside of the southern city of Quneitra.

"The forces destroyed the remains of two mortar companies and anti-tank
missiles belonging to the former Syrian army, near the strategic Ain
al-Nouriya hill," Syrian sources told *Al Mayadeen*.

“Occupation forces were stationed for hours on a vital road linking the
Quneitra countryside to the Damascus countryside in the direction of Khan
Arnabeh - Harfa, which caused a state of panic among the residents,
especially with the expansion of the incursions and the increase in Israeli
patrols in the Quneitra countryside and Mount Hermon,” the sources said.

An Israeli airstrike targeted a military site on the outskirts of the city
of Inkhil in the northern countryside of the southern Deraa governorate on
Saturday night.

Israel's recent expansion across southern Syria, which began immediately
after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government, has seen invading troops
seize precious water sources such as the Al-Wahda Dam on the Yarmouk River
Basin and others, as well as establish observation posts in several
strategic areas overlooking Damascus and its countryside.

*Washington Post *reported
<https://www.almayadeen.net/news/politics/%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1----%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%B7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%AA----%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84--%D8%AA%D8%A8%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B3%D9%88?utm_source=mango-searchx&utm_medium=exact_title&utm_campaign=%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7>
earlier this month, citing locals in the area, that the Israeli army is
setting up permanent military settlements in a number of villages in
southern Syria, including Jabata al-Khashab in Quneitra.

Tel Aviv is planning to maintain an indefinite presence in Syria.

“The IDF will remain at the summit of the Hermon and the security zone
indefinitely to ensure the security of the communities of the Golan Heights
and the north, and all the residents of Israel,” Israeli Defense Minister
Israel Katz said
<https://thecradle.co/articles/israeli-war-chief-confirms-army-will-indefinitely-occupy-southern-syria>
late last month during a visit to the occupied Syrian territory.

“We will not allow hostile forces to establish themselves in the security
zone in southern Syria ... we will act against any threat,” he added.

Katz also said that Tel Aviv will make contact with “friendly populations”
in the southern Syria area, “with an emphasis on the large Druze community
which has historic and close family relations with our Druze brothers in
Israel.”

Israel has claimed concern over minority groups in Syria, some of whom face
heavy persecution at the hands of the new Syrian authorities.

Last week, Syrian residents
<https://www.almayadeen.net/news/politics/%D8%A3%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%B6%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A3%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84--%D9%84%D8%A7-%D9%84?utm_source=mango-searchx&utm_medium=exact_title&utm_campaign=%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%A9>of
the village of Al-Muallaqa said they would refuse any aid or assistance
from Israel or its military.
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