Israeli forces advance deeper into southern Syria amid peace talks

On January 6, Israeli forces invaded the village of Saida al-Golan near Quneitra in southern Syria, an act that Syrian sources described as yet another violation of the country’s sovereignty.

The incident occurred against the backdrop of a new round of Syria-Israel talks in Paris, coordinated and mediated by the United States, Al Jazeera reports.

Twelve Israeli military vehicles entered the village.

The negotiations are expected to continue on the second and final day. A Syrian source told SANA that the resumption of dialogue underscores the country’s commitment to restoring its “inalienable national rights.”

Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Israel has expanded its occupation of Syrian territory, going beyond the occupied Golan Heights and regularly conducting raids and shelling in the south of the country.

In recent months, according to Tasnim News Agency, Israeli forces have almost daily invaded southern Syria, particularly Quneitra province, including making arrests, setting up military checkpoints, and levelling land, fueling public discontent and tension among the local population.

By Khagan Isayev