From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Syrian media: IDF operating in villages outside buffer zone
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Israeli troops have been operating in several Syrian villages beyond the buffer zone in southern Syria in the past day, according to local media.
The Daraa 24 outlet yesterday reported that IDF soldiers entered the village of Ma’ariya, a few hundred meters east of the buffer zone in the southern Golan Heights, and questioned locals.
The outlet says that today IDF tanks entered the town of Saidah, also on the edge of the buffer zone.
#عاجل: مراسل درعا 24: دبابات إسـ.ـرائيلـ.ـية تتوغل في قرية صيدا الجولان على الحدود الإدارية بين محافظتي درعا والقنيطرة. #صيدا_الجولان #إسرائيل #توغل #درعا24 pic.twitter.com/5sVFwuKXOe
— Daraa 24 – 24 درعا (@Daraa24_24) December 17, 2024
There is no immediate comment from the IDF on the actions.
The IDF has said that its deployment to the buffer zone and strategic positions in the area is a defensive and temporary measure amid the situation in Syria, and it would remain there until it clears up. The military has also acknowledged operating beyond the buffer zone in several areas.
متابعة: مراسل درعا 24: فتشتْ قوات الاحتـلال الإسـ..ـرائيلي العديد من السكّان من الرجال في قرية معرية في منطقة حوض اليرموك في الريف الغربي من محافظة درعا، أثناء انتشارها في شوارع القرية.
المراسل نقلاً عن أحد الأهالي: بعض عمليات التفتيش كانت غير لائقة، حيث طلب الجنود من بعض… https://t.co/7uEUWhkn32 pic.twitter.com/iqbXBIsRxu
— Daraa 24 – 24 درعا (@Daraa24_24) December 16, 2024
The Times of Israel Community.