Israeli forces raid Syria again, entering a village in southern Daraa a day after Damascus and Tel Aviv held talks to reduce tensions. Several Israeli military vehicles moved into Maariya in western Daraa countryside on Monday, according to Syrian state media.
The reported incursion came one day after a Syrian delegation met Israeli officials in Jordan. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani led the Syrian delegation. The meeting took place under US mediation and focused on reducing escalation in southern Syria.
Syrian state media said the Israeli forces entered Maariya with several military vehicles. The report described the move as another Israeli incursion into Syrian territory. No further details about arrests or casualties from Monday’s operation were provided in the available report.
Southern Syria has faced frequent Israeli military activity in recent months. Quneitra and Daraa provinces have seen raids, searches, arrests and military checkpoints. On Sunday, Israeli forces reportedly entered Al-Rafid in Quneitra and detained a shepherd.
The latest developments followed talks intended to ease tensions between Syria and Israel. The meeting came after recent Israeli shelling of Syrian territory. On August 18, Israeli aircraft carried out eight strikes on Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase in Idlib province. The strikes damaged parts of the airbase infrastructure.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said on July 26 that Syria was working with other countries to reach a security agreement with Israel. Israel has controlled most of the Syrian Golan Heights since 1967. After Bashar Assad’s government fell in late 2024, Israel said the 1974 disengagement agreement had collapsed and occupied the buffer zone.
Israeli military activity was also reported in southern Lebanon on Monday. Lebanese state media said Israeli forces shelled Mansouri, bulldozed areas in Houla and demolished homes in Khiam. Agricultural fields were also reportedly set on fire. The developments came despite a US-backed framework agreement signed by Lebanon and Israel on June 26. Lebanese authorities say Israel’s assault since March 2 has killed 4,348 people and injured 12,307 others, while more than one million people have been displaced.
