The Syrian Network for Human Rights documented that the Israeli occupation forces carried out at least six ground incursions into various areas of Quneitra Governorate, during the period between May 8 and 19, 2025.
These operations were carried out 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 civilian stability.
According to information obtained by SNHR from reliable local sources, the incursions included the entry of Israeli military units, some of them backed by armored vehicles, into civilian areas. During these incursions, they carried out a variety of actions, most notably the arrest/detention of civilians and the establishment of temporary checkpoints.
Most notable areas targeted during the incursion:
Bir Ajam village: Forces entered residential neighborhoods.
Saida al-Hanout village: We recorded two incursions on May 8 and 10. In the second, we documented the arrest of a man and his son, who were detained for hours before being released.
Al-Asha village: Forces entered the village and placed food aid in front of homes. The residents burned the aid in protest against the forces’ presence.
Kodna Village: Forces entered the village and set up a temporary checkpoint at the eastern entrance. They searched passersby, recorded their names, and checked their ID cards using walkie-talkies.
Jabata al-Khashab Village: We recorded an incursion into the village’s vicinity.
Initial information indicates that the Israeli incursion did not result in direct clashes, but it did cause fear and unrest among residents, amid fears of escalating tensions in the area. It should be noted that the targeted areas are under the control of the transitional government in Syria and have been administered by civilians since the withdrawal of Iranian militias and the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime on December 8, 2024.
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, as well as the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Syria and Israel. Continued Israeli incursions into the border areas pose 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 preventing escalation.
The entry of military forces into the territory of another state without a declaration of war or the existence of an active confrontation, with the implementation of practices such as arrest and search, is a violation of Articles 49 and 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Populations in Time of War.
The implementation of “forced inspections and searches” of residents 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 stipulated 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 detention of two residents directly violated the right to personal security, freedom of movement, and freedom from intimidation, rights guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Articles 9 and 12).
Recommendations by SNHR:
- Clear condemnation by 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 subjected to interrogation or arbitrary detention, with full documentation within the framework of international accountability mechanisms such as the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM).
- Demanding that the International Criminal Court open an investigation into serious Israeli violations, particularly those that may be classified as crimes against humanity or war crimes, such as unlawful detention. 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.
