Israeli army arrests 2 Syrians in Golan buffer zone, branded 'Hezbollah spies'

The Israeli army arrested two Syrians while conducting a patrol in the village of al-Baas, in the demilitarized zone of the occupied Golan Heights, according to security sources quoted by the Qatari newspaper The New Arab.

Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, troops from Israel invaded several territories belonging to Syria, and have since occupied several villages in the provinces of Quneitra and Deraa, in the demilitarized zone normally under U.N. authority since 1974. As part of this offensive, the Israeli army has established several positions on military sites previously controlled by the Syrian army, and deployed large numbers of troops to patrol these villages, provoking strong protests from local residents.

Israel carries out 12 raids

Israeli soldiers arrested two residents of al-Baas near Deraa, under the pretext of “spying for Hezbollah,” according to the sources, who add that Israel carried out a total of 12 ground raids in villages located in the buffer zone, but also beyond the demarcation line into Syrian territory, as far as the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.

Last Friday, a Syrian demonstrator was wounded in the leg by Israeli fire during one of these unarmed demonstrations, organized to protest against this new occupation in Ma'ariya, in the province of Deraa, according to the daily Haaretz.

A few days earlier, Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, had called on Israeli troops to prepare “not to forget to take a coat” to “spend the winter” in these newly invaded territories. Tel Aviv described these maneuvers as a “temporary security measure until a suitable arrangement can be found,” while continuing its massive bombing campaign against regular Syrian army positions across Syria.

Despite international condemnation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Parliament (unanimously) have already announced a plan estimated at 40 million shekels ($11 million) for “demographic development” on the Israeli side of the Golan Heights.

The leader of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham group and Syria's new strongman, Ahmad al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, called on Israel to withdraw from the buffer zone, but also expressed his desire to avoid a prolonged conflict with his neighbor.