On December 24, 2024, Israel has established extensive military and civilian control in southern Syria, according to a report by the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have taken over a buffer zone, including strategic cities, towns, and hills, reaching the outskirts of Daraa and seizing control of the Yarmouk Basin and freshwater sources.
As part of this initiative, several command centers have been established, with the most notable located in the city hall of Ba'ath in Quneitra, which serves to engage local dignitaries and open broader communication channels with residents.
Local sources cited in the report indicate that following protests against the Israeli presence and attempts to bypass withdrawal demands, Israeli authorities have informed residents of the need to return to work in fields and agricultural farms. This comes with assurances to avoid harming civilians, after complaints regarding damage to agricultural holdings due to the Israeli blockade.
Simultaneously, heavy Israeli engineering vehicles are reportedly conducting excavation work on various hills, constructing earthen barriers, and installing surveillance cameras and communication and intelligence equipment. This is part of establishing infrastructure for future control in the region, whether through direct presence or by placing residents under constant surveillance.
Despite Israeli promises to avoid harming residents, conditional on their compliance with orders, adherence to imposed curfews, and surrendering weapons and wanted individuals, the report notes a continuous movement of refugees from many villages and towns in the Yarmouk Basin and western outskirts of Daraa. Since the fall of the Assad regime, Israeli forces have penetrated deeply into Syrian territory, taking control of extensive areas along the buffer zone, exceeding 20 kilometers in some regions, including the strategic Golan Heights.
This development occurs while UN peacekeeping forces are absent from the area, and authorities in Damascus distance themselves from the situation in the south, claiming that the state cannot endure further wars.