Israel strengthens military presence in southern Syria

The Israeli military is transitioning from temporary incursions to a permanent military presence in southern Syria, establishing approximately nine company-sized positions and an extensive fortification system along the border.

According to reports, the Israeli military has been implementing an engineering project titled "New East" for nearly two years. This project involves digging trenches roughly four meters wide and deep, stretching from Majdal Shams in the north to the border triangle in the south, alongside the construction of high earth berms. The project is reportedly 80% complete, though progress was delayed due to the diversion of engineering equipment to military operations in Lebanon.

Israeli forces have conducted incursions into villages such as Al-Samadaniyah al-Sharqiyah in the Quneitra countryside using tanks and armored vehicles. The military presence includes regular movements within villages and towns in the Daraa and Quneitra governorates. This escalation follows the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024, after which Israel unilaterally declared the collapse of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

While Israel maintains these fortifications to slow potential ground movements toward its controlled areas, Syrian authorities continue to demand a full withdrawal from the occupied territories.