The Syrian Network for Human Rights documented at least four ground incursions by Israeli occupation forces into areas in the Quneitra and Daraa governorates between May 25 and June 5, 2025. Israeli forces entered the area without prior announcement, sparking a state of anticipation and anxiety among the local population. This incursion is an extension of repeated Israeli military operations aimed at imposing a new security reality through ground incursions that threaten the stability of civilians.
The incursions included the entry of Israeli military units, some of which were supported by heavy military vehicles such as tanks. The forces carried out several operations, most notably the search of residential homes.
Areas targeted by the incursions:
An incursion toward the city of Salam in the Quneitra countryside, reaching the eastern village of Samdaniya, before withdrawing toward the demolished city of Quneitra.
Ma’araba village/Daraa: An Israeli military unit entered the outskirts of the village and searched at least five residential homes before quickly withdrawing.
Jubata al-Khashab town/Quneitra: An Israeli military patrol entered residential neighborhoods and conducted raids and searches of several homes.
The outskirts of Majdoulia village/Quneitra.
Initial information indicates that the Israeli incursion did not result in direct clashes, but it did cause fear and unrest among the civilian population, amid concerns about escalating tensions in the area. It should be noted that the targeted areas are under the control of the transitional government in Syria, which has been administered by civilians since the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2025.
Legal Conclusions
- These operations constitute a clear violation of the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic and a breach of international law, including Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity of any member state, in addition to the Disengagement Agreement signed between Syria and Israel in 1974. The continued Israeli incursions into the border areas constitute a direct threat to the security of the civilian population and raise the possibility of forced displacement or the imposition of illegal military arrangements in the area.
- Under the disengagement agreement signed between Syria and Israel, Israeli forces are prohibited from entering specific areas near the contact lines in the Golan Heights. These incursions constitute a direct violation of the terms of the agreement, undermining any existing framework for de-escalation.
- The entry of military forces into the territory of another State without a declaration of war or the existence of an active conflict, while carrying out practices such as the search of civilian homes, constitutes a violation of Articles 49 and 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.
- The implementation of searches of civilian homes in some villages, along with the heavy military presence and the imposition of temporary field control, threatens the imposition of a new demographic and security reality by force, which may amount to forced displacement practices prohibited under international humanitarian law and the Rome Statute (Article 7).
- The absence of any direct confrontation or immediate threat undermines any possible justification for the Israeli operations under the right of self-defense enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter and shows that the incursions were provocative and violated the principles of proportionality and necessity.
- The sudden military deployment, entry into residential neighborhoods, and searches of residents’ homes have directly violated the right to personal security, movement, and freedom from intimidation, which are rights guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Articles 9 and 12).
Recommendations by SNHR
- Clear condemnation from the UN Security Council and General Assembly, considering the Israeli incursions as aggressive acts that violate the sovereignty of a member state, and an immediate call for an end to these violations.
- Calling on the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) to open an urgent field investigation into all incursion sites and submit an official report to the Security Council on the Israeli violations.
- International pressure on Israel to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Conventions, and to ensure that these incursions, which threaten the security of the local population, are not repeated.
- Providing legal and humanitarian support to affected civilians, particularly those whose homes were searched, with full documentation of the incident within the framework of international accountability mechanisms such as the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM).
- Strengthening the humanitarian and human rights presence in Quneitra Governorate, by deploying non-governmental human rights monitoring teams, and providing psychological support and legal services to those affected by these operations.
