Israeli Army and Settlers Double Down Pressure in Southern Syria

Since the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024, Tel Aviv has deployed a strategy of creeping encroachment in southern Syria that has been met with minor diplomatic resistance. This strategy applied in parts of Quneitra and Daraa relies on announcing buffer zones, setting up military bases and checkpoints, preventing farmers from working their land, conducting arbitrary arrests and raids, destroying civilian homes, and enabling settlers to conduct incursions. In parallel, Israel has increased funding to bring settlers into the occupied Golan Heights and has launched de-mining efforts along the Israeli Syrian border as a prelude to Israel’s Eastern Border Security Barrier initiative.