# Israeli military construction and incursions in Syria

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/israeli-military-construction-in-syrias-quneitra
> Updated: 2026-10-24T03:42:17.000Z. Sources: 29. Developments: 6.

Israeli military forces have resumed work on the ‘Sufa 53’ project, also referred to as the ‘Great Storm’ or ‘Sufa 53 Line,’ in the southern Quneitra countryside of Syria. The project involves constructing a fortified military route along the separation line with the Golan Heights, featuring an eight-meter-wide road, earthen embankments reaching up to five meters, trenches, and observation posts. Construction activities have intensified near the villages of al-Ashah, al-Rafid, Jabata al-Khashab, al-Hamidiyah, and al-Qahṭaniyah, impacting approximately 1,020 hectares of agricultural and grazing land. These activities have also reportedly altered natural water drainage patterns, causing damage to nearby properties during heavy rainfall. Following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024, Israeli forces have conducted repeated incursions into southern Syria. Syrian authorities have condemned these actions as violations of international law and the 1974 disengagement agreement, noting that Israeli forces have advanced between 300 and 1,000 meters beyond the ceasefire line in certain sectors. Data from the Sijill center indicates that since December 2024, Israel has carried out 2,850 documented violations of Syrian sovereignty, including airstrikes and ground incursions. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports 1,019 ground incursions since the regime's fall, with 720 occurring in 2026. In response, widespread protests have erupted across Damascus, Homs, Raqqa, Idlib, Daraa, and Quneitra. Recent demonstrations were partly triggered by the death of a person with disabilities during an Israeli incursion in the Daraa countryside, alongside demands from families for the release of Syrian citizens held in Israeli custody. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights documented approximately 280 Israeli incursions into Syrian territory over the past month.

## Claims

- Protests took place in Damascus, Homs, Raqqa, Idlib, Daraa, and Quneitra. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Israeli military incursions in Quneitra and Daraa provinces violate Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the international community to intervene and ensure Israeli compliance with international law. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Reşa Hasan Zeytun's twin sons, Muhammed Mutasım Mervad and Mahmud, were detained on September 17. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Continued Israeli military activity and aerial flights undermine regional stability and security. (single source)
- Israeli forces entered the village of Al-Ajraf in central Quneitra using approximately 15 military vehicles. (single source)
- Israeli forces bulldozed agricultural land and olive trees in the village of Saida al-Hanout in southern Quneitra. (single source)
- An Israeli patrol of roughly 12 vehicles entered the village of Abdeen in the Yarmouk Basin and conducted house searches. (single source)
- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights documented about 280 Israeli incursions into Syria in the last month. (single source)
- At least 49 Syrians are being held by Israel. (single source)
- Protesters in Saas'a demanded the FAO investigate the uprooting of trees in Quneitra. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-24: Israel recorded 2,850 sovereignty violations in Syria

Since the fall of the Assad government in late 2024, Israel has conducted 2,850 sovereignty violations in Syria, focusing on ground incursions and airstrikes in Quneitra and Daraa.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israel-recorded-2850-sovereignty-violations-in-syria

### 2026-10-23: Syria protests Israeli military incursions in the south

Syrians held widespread protests in multiple provinces to condemn Israeli military incursions in southern Syria and demand the release of detainees.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/syrians-protest-israeli-military-incursions-and-violations

### 2026-10-20: Israel deploys tanks into southern Syria near Quneitra

Israeli tanks and aircraft have increased military activity in Syria's Quneitra and Daraa provinces, prompting Damascus to condemn the incursions as violations of national sovereignty.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israel-deploys-tanks-into-southern-syria-near-quneitra

### 2026-10-18: Syria condemns Israeli military incursions in Quneitra and Daraa

Syria has condemned intensified Israeli ground incursions and aerial activity in the Quneitra and Daraa provinces, calling for international intervention to protect its sovereignty.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/syria-condemns-israeli-military-incursions-in-quneitra-and-daraa

### 2026-10-04: Syria condemns Israeli military construction in Quneitra

Syria condemned Israeli construction of the ‘Sufa 53’ military route in Quneitra, citing violations of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and threats to regional stability.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/syria-condemns-israeli-military-construction-in-quneitra

### 2026-10-04: Israel resumes Sufa 53 military project in Syria's Quneitra

Israeli forces have resumed the ‘Sufa 53’ military project in Syria's Quneitra countryside, constructing roads and fortifications that have damaged significant agricultural land.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israel-resumes-sufa-53-military-project-in-syrias-quneitra

---
Cite as: Israeli military construction and incursions in Syria. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/israeli-military-construction-in-syrias-quneitra
