Israeli Military Raids and Detentions Escalate Tensions in Southern Syria

Residents in southern Syria are facing a surge in Israeli military incursions, arbitrary arrests, and territorial expansion following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024. Local accounts describe a pattern of midnight raids where individuals are seized from their homes without charge or legal representation. Former detainees report severe physical abuse, including prolonged shackling, the use of attack dogs, and sensory deprivation in detention facilities such as Ofer and Megiddo, with at least 51 Syrians currently confirmed to be held in Israeli custody.

Data from the Sijil Center, a Syrian monitoring organization, documented 280 Israeli violations in September alone, ranging from artillery fire to unauthorized incursions. These actions have severely disrupted local agriculture and daily life, leaving the population in a state of constant fear. Detainees, many of whom were never charged, describe harrowing conditions, including being held for months without questioning and being denied access to international observers like the Red Cross, which has been barred from these facilities since October 2023.

The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), tasked with maintaining the 1974 ceasefire, remains present but largely ineffective. The mission has confirmed that its patrol activities are frequently restricted by the Israeli military, which has established roadblocks and checkpoints that impede peacekeeping operations. In one instance, Israeli armored vehicles blocked access to a UN base, effectively neutralizing the peacekeepers' ability to intervene or monitor the escalating military activity in the demilitarized zone.

Israel maintains that its increased presence and operations in Syrian territory are necessary for regional security and the protection of local communities, a justification rejected by Syrian authorities. As the Israeli military continues to expand its footprint beyond the Golan Heights, the humanitarian situation for Syrian civilians remains precarious. With international oversight limited and diplomatic channels strained, the local population continues to endure the psychological and physical toll of ongoing military operations, with no clear resolution in sight for those still missing or detained.