Israeli military activity in southern Syria has moved well beyond routine patrols or the establishment of temporary outposts. It now encompasses house searches, roadside checkpoints, raids on civilian facilities and extensive land‑clearing and excavation across agricultural terrain. These operations have begun to shape the daily lives of residents, affecting movement, school attendance, olive harvesting and access to farmland.
In the latest incident, an Israeli force of roughly fourteen military vehicles entered the village of West Samadaniyya in central Quneitra. Troops searched several homes, broke the gate of the village school and entered the campus. Syrian media reports noted that the purpose of the school entry remains unclear.
The incursion coincided with the establishment of temporary checkpoints along key roads in northern Quneitra, including the Al‑Kassarat junction in Jubata al‑Khashab and the Tranjeh–Mazarat al‑Amal road, where commuters were stopped and vehicles inspected. A four‑vehicle patrol was also observed maneuvering near Ofaniya before withdrawing toward Al‑Hurriya.
These operations form part of a broader pattern of recurring military activity across Quneitra and Daraa. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported thirty‑five ground incursions and maneuvers between November 1 and November 7, including temporary checkpoints, home and shop searches and civilian detentions. Most incidents occurred in the Quneitra countryside, extending into western Daraa and the surroundings of Mount Hermon.
Land Access Restrictions Threaten the Olive Harvest
The impact of these movements reaches beyond roads and residential areas. Farmers in the village of Koya in western Daraa are facing severe obstacles in accessing their fields during the crucial olive harvest.
According to testimonies cited by Syrian media outlets, more than one hundred families in Koya depend on agriculture as their primary livelihood. The affected lands cover roughly three hundred dunams of olive groves and vegetable crops. Local growers say movement restrictions prevent them from reaching their fields and gathering their yields.
The disruption is not confined to Koya. In Saida al‑Hanout in southern Quneitra, approximately thirteen dunams of olive groves were bulldozed on October 18, according to Syrian media reports, while farmers in nearby areas were barred from entering their fields.
On November 5, a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross visited Al‑Rafid in the Quneitra countryside to discuss access restrictions with the local mayor, focusing on farmlands situated near the ceasefire line during the harvest season. According to the Quneitra Media Directorate, the meeting addressed the economic consequences for local growers and possible mechanisms to mitigate the impact, although no formal arrangements allowing farmers to resume fieldwork were announced.
“Sova 53”: Military Fortifications at the Expense of Farmland
Alongside incursions and checkpoints, parts of the Quneitra countryside are undergoing excavation, land‑clearing and fortification work, particularly around Saida al‑Hanout, under the ongoing “Sova 53” project.
Syrian reports indicate that implementation began in mid‑2022, involving the construction of a military road running parallel to the Golan Heights, supported by earthen berms, trenches and observation posts. The route reportedly extends from the outskirts of Hader in the north through the Quneitra countryside down to Al‑Asha in the south.
Project‑related operations have already bulldozed agricultural plots, heightening fears among residents of permanent loss of farmland and grazing areas. Israel has released no comprehensive official details on the project’s final alignment, although Israeli media describe the construction as part of defensive border arrangements along the Syrian frontier.
On November 7, reports indicated that digging and land‑clearing operations continued around Saida al‑Hanout alongside military vehicle movements, adding further pressure on agricultural lands at a time when farmers are already struggling to access their fields.
395 Violations Documented in October
Data compiled by the Sijill Center highlight the expanding scope of Israeli activity in southern Syria in recent months. The center documented 395 violations during October 2026, a 41.1 percent increase compared with September’s 280 violations, marking the highest monthly total recorded since the beginning of the year.
Quneitra accounted for 285 incidents, followed by Daraa with 74, Rural Damascus with 29 and Damascus with seven. According to the report, the incidents included 126 ground incursions, 115 overflights, 44 temporary checkpoints, 36 raids, 30 detentions, 14 artillery shelling incidents and 28 additional infractions involving land‑clearing, excavation and gunfire.
Beyond the sheer volume of military movements, the data underscore the friction points confronting local populations, from navigating checkpoints and vehicle searches to coping with home raids, detentions and agricultural blockades along the ceasefire line.
In response, Damascus continues to frame its public position around diplomatic outreach to international parties, urging Israel to halt its violations, withdraw its forces and adhere to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. Yet these efforts have not produced tangible measures to protect local communities or ensure farmers can safely access their lands, even as incursions, raids and land‑clearing operations persist.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
