Israeli Forces Set Up Temporary Checkpoint in Syrias Quneitra Province, No Clashes Reported

Israeli forces carried out a new incursion into Syria’s southern Quneitra province on Sunday, 26 February 2026, and established a temporary checkpoint to search civilians and passing vehicles, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

A patrol of three Israeli military vehicles advanced along the Al‑Hiran–Al‑Rafid Road in the southern countryside of Quneitra, where troops set up a checkpoint to inspect passersby and vehicles, SANA said. No arrests or clashes were reported.

The incursion followed a raid the day before in Wadi al‑Ruqqad in the western countryside of neighboring Daraa province, according to Syria’s Alikhbariah TV. The broadcaster did not provide further details about that operation.

The latest incursion is part of a pattern of Israeli raids, searches and arrests that have become frequent in southern Syria since the fall of Bashar al‑Assad’s regime in December 2024. After the regime collapsed, Israel declared the 1974 Disengagement Agreement void and seized control of the Syrian buffer zone that borders the Israeli‑occupied Golan Heights.

The 1974 Agreement, signed in Geneva, had established a demilitarised zone along the Israel‑Syria cease‑fire line and placed a United Nations peacekeeping force (UNDOF) in the area. Israel’s announcement of the agreement’s collapse was widely condemned and led to a series of military actions against Syrian positions.

According to reports, Israeli forces have entered the buffer zone on multiple occasions since the invasion, often setting up temporary checkpoints to inspect civilians and vehicles. In the most recent operation, the patrol moved along a rural road, stopped vehicles, and conducted brief searches. No injuries or arrests were reported, and the Israeli troops withdrew after completing the inspection.

The Syrian government has repeatedly called for Israel to respect Syria’s sovereignty and to withdraw from the buffer zone. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Information, officials said that the incursions “constitute a violation of international law and a direct threat to the security of the Syrian people.”

The United Nations has also expressed concern. In a briefing to the Security Council, the UN Secretary‑General’s office noted that Israel’s repeated violations of the 1974 Agreement “raise serious questions about the durability of the cease‑fire line and the safety of civilians living in the buffer zone.”

The incursion in Quneitra is the latest in a series of operations that have drawn criticism from the international community. Analysts say that the pattern of Israeli incursions reflects Israel’s broader strategy to secure its southern border and to prevent any potential threat from a post‑Assad Syria.

While the Israeli forces did not report any clashes, the presence of a temporary checkpoint in the buffer zone has heightened tensions in the region. Local residents in the area have expressed concern about the possibility of further military activity.

At present, no arrests have been made and no casualties have been reported. The Israeli patrol reportedly left the area after completing its inspections.

The Syrian transitional government has not yet issued a formal response to this specific incursion. However, it has reiterated its demand for Israel to withdraw from the buffer zone and to respect the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

The situation remains fluid, with the possibility of further incursions or diplomatic exchanges in the coming days. The international community continues to monitor the developments closely.