Members of the security forces of the new Syrian authorities deploying in the predominantly Druze and Christian area of Jaramana, near Damascus, on March 2, 2025. (Credit: Bakr Alkassem/AFP/)
BEIRUT — Israeli ground military operations were reportedly conducted overnight between Monday and Tuesday in southwestern Syria, spanning the provinces of Quneitra and Deraa, according to local online news outlets.
The Shaam News Network, which identifies as independent and aligned with the Syrian revolution, reported that local sources in Deraa’s southern countryside reported an Israeli advance near the outskirts of Tal al-Mal and close to former cargo sites in the northern countryside of Deraa province.
Additionally, Israeli bulldozer sounds were heard following airstrikes on the coastal city of Tartous.
Sources in Quneitra’s countryside told the network that Israeli military vehicles entered the sector, while Israeli helicopters were heard in Deraa’s northern and western regions, as well as in Quneitra.
'Explosions, helicopters, and drones'
On X, the OSINTDefender account, which tracks conflict zones worldwide using open-source intelligence, claimed Israeli special forces launched a "landing operation" on Monday evening at several sites previously controlled by pro-Iranian militias and the Syrian Arab Army, which is loyal to the Assad regime. The sites are in southwest Syria, between the provinces of Quneitra and Deraa.
Residents reported hearing explosions, helicopters and drones during the operation, the account reported.
So far, the Israeli army has not commented on these operations.
Strike on western Syria
On Monday evening, the Israeli army confirmed a strike on "a military site used to store weapons that had belonged to the fallen Syrian regime" in the Qardaha region of western Syria. "Due to recent developments, we decided to attack infrastructure within this site. We continue to monitor the situation on the Syrian front and will take necessary measures to protect the residents of Israel," Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army's Arabic-speaking spokesperson, wrote on X.
Israel has increased its advances into Syrian territory in recent days and has carried out several strikes since the fall of Assad’s regime. On Saturday, Israel warned it might directly intervene in the city of Jaramana, near Damascus.
Israeli fighter jets also launched airstrikes the night of Feb. 25-26, reportedly targeting military positions in southern Syria, particularly near Damascus and in Deraa province. This occurred as the national dialogue conference, aimed at facilitating a political transition, was concluding.
Two days earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded "the complete demilitarization of southern Syria in the provinces of Quneitra, Deraa and Sweida."
