Nine civilians killed in Israeli incursion into Daraa, Damascus condemns aggression

Nine civilians were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting the Al-Jubailiya Dam Forest, located between the city of Nawa and the town of Tasil, west of Daraa, southern Syria. Meanwhile, the Israeli army announced a renewed incursion into southern Syria, claiming to have killed a number of militants who opened fire on its forces.

The Daraa Governorate reported in a statement carried by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) that "nine civilians were killed and others were wounded, according to a preliminary toll, as a result of the Israeli occupation's bombing of the Al-Jabiliyah Dam Forest." The statement noted that "there is a great public alert and anger following this massacre, especially in light of the occupation forces' first incursion into this depth."

Daraa Governor Anwar Taha Al-Zoubi told Al-Arabiya TV that the occupation forces had penetrated agricultural areas in the governorate for the first time before withdrawing from two axes. He indicated that residents reject any contact with the Israeli occupation and will organize a protest rally against the Israeli violations, stressing that "the leadership in Damascus is authorized to speak on our behalf." For its part, the "Free Houran League" (a group of media and human rights activists in southern Syria) stated in a report issued early Thursday that the death toll is likely to rise, with a large number of wounded in Nawa Hospital, some of whom are in critical condition. The group noted in its report that Israeli occupation forces penetrated the western Daraa countryside on Thursday night, targeting positions in Tal al-Jumu', the vicinity of the city of Nawa, and the al-Jubailiya Forest (Harsh Tasil) with artillery shells, along with airstrikes. These shells resulted in civilian casualties, amid a state of alert in the area.

The Israeli occupation army, in turn, said in a statement that forces from the 474th Brigade carried out an operation last night in the Tasail area in southern Syria, allegedly "confiscating weapons and destroying terrorist infrastructure." It noted that these forces were subjected to "a number of gunmen firing at them, before they were targeted and killed in air and ground bombardment." While the Israeli army denied any casualties, it considered that "the presence of combat equipment in southern Syria poses a threat to Israel," vowing not to allow this.

Katz: The raids on Syria are a warning for the future

Commenting on the Israeli bombing and incursion into Syria, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said that Israeli forces will remain in the buffer zones inside Syria and will act to "confront threats to its security." He threatened the Syrian government in a statement that it would "pay a heavy price if it allows forces hostile to Israel to enter." Katz added that the airstrikes last night on Hama and Damascus are "a clear message and a warning for the future... We will not allow any harm to Israel's security," he said.

The Israeli escalation, according to the group, came after Israeli forces infiltrated several villages in the Daraa and Quneitra countrysides, noting that "their approach to the city of Nawa, the largest city in Daraa, indicates a new shift in the nature of these operations."

The group stated in its report that "fears are growing among residents regarding the possibility of expanding military operations, especially since Nawa is densely populated. With the continued shelling and incursions, the humanitarian situation is worsening, in light of the deterioration of basic services and the lack of security stability in the area."

An Al-Araby Al-Jadeed correspondent confirmed the withdrawal of the invading Israeli forces from the Tasil Forest "amid a state of high public alert in the city of Nawa and the surrounding areas." It should be noted that most of the martyrs were residents of Nawa. The city is witnessing a funeral ceremony for the nine martyrs this afternoon, according to the governor of Daraa. This coincides with popular calls for widespread participation, expressing anger at the ongoing Israeli attacks and violations in the governorate.

An Israeli military convoy arrived yesterday evening, Wednesday, at Tal al-Ahmar al-Gharbi in the Quneitra countryside, coming from the occupied Golan Heights via a road paved by the occupation forces after their expansion in the area, according to field sources confirmed to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. The occupation forces also shelled Tal al-Jamou' in the western Daraa countryside with tank shells. Tal al-Jumou' is the only elevated hill in the region, with its summit reaching a height of approximately 200 meters. It overlooks a flat plain to the east, extending to Sheikh Miskeen in the central countryside of the governorate. It also overlooks most of the Yarmouk Valley to the south.