Israeli Forces Detain A Child and A Shepherd in Southern Syria
Detentions and ground incursions continue in Quneitra and Daraa despite US-sponsored security talks
Syria | PUREWILAYAH.COM — Israeli occupation forces detained a child and a civilian shepherd in separate incidents in southern Syria this week, as Israeli ground operations continued to expand across Quneitra and Daraa provinces despite ongoing US-mediated political and security contacts with Damascus.
Civilian Detentions in Quneitra and the Golan
Local sources reported that Israeli occupation forces detained a child on Thursday west of the village of Koudna, in the Quneitra countryside, before transferring him to an undisclosed location.
In a separate incident, an Israeli patrol entered the village of Ruwayhina, in central Quneitra, and arrested a shepherd during a ground incursion into the area.
Earlier this week, Israeli forces also detained a young man from the village of Saida in the occupied Golan Heights following overnight house raids and searches.
Israeli Military Convoys Advance in Western Daraa
The detentions coincided with a wider escalation of Israeli military activity in southern Syria.
According to local sources in Daraa, Israeli occupation forces advanced into multiple villages in the western Daraa countryside on February 18.
Reports indicate that:
An Israeli military convoy consisting of approximately 20 military vehicles entered the village of Saisoun, where forces established two checkpoints inside the village.
A separate Israeli patrol made up of seven military vehicles advanced into al-Masritiya, in the Yarmouk Basin area.
The movements marked a continued Israeli ground presence beyond previously observed lines of deployment.
Incursions Persist Despite US-Backed “Security Understandings”
The latest Israeli actions occurred despite joint announcements by the United States, Israel, and Syria claiming the existence of strategic understandings aimed at enhancing “security and stability” between Damascus and Tel Aviv.
Following a meeting in Paris earlier this month, the three parties announced plans for coordination mechanisms, including the establishment of a joint security coordination framework.
Israeli broadcaster i24NEWS reported on January 24 that Syrian and Israeli officials were close to finalizing a US-sponsored security agreement, with further meetings expected to address remaining details.
US Military and Diplomatic Engagement
In parallel, a spokesperson for United States Central Command confirmed that its commander, Brad Cooper, held talks with Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Additional reports from Israel’s public broadcaster indicated that indirect contacts between Syria and Israel have also involved Russian mediation, operating with US approval, with Baku hosting several high-level meetings.
Despite these diplomatic tracks, Israeli ground operations in southern Syria have continued without interruption.
Ongoing Israeli Operations Since Late 2024
Since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government on December 8, 2024, Israel has conducted hundreds of air and ground operations across Syrian territory.
Throughout 2025, Israeli forces expanded their presence beyond the 1974 disengagement zone, intensified strikes on military infrastructure, and occupied additional areas in southern Syria.
Negotiations between Damascus and Tel Aviv reportedly stalled in late 2025 over territorial and withdrawal disputes, while Israeli demands extended beyond a limited security arrangement.
Situation on the Ground
Despite ongoing diplomatic engagement led by Washington, Israeli detentions, patrols, and armored incursions in southern Syria have continued, with civilian communities in Quneitra and Daraa remaining directly affected by the expanding Israeli military footprint.
The persistence of these operations underscores the disconnect between diplomatic statements on “stability” and the reality of Israeli actions on the ground. (PW)