Israeli military activities in southern Syria intensified on Friday, with tanks reportedly entering the Quneitra countryside overnight.

Local sources from Quneitra reported that Israeli tanks infiltrated the town of Khan Arnabah, one of the province’s largest towns, and entered an abandoned former military position before later withdrawing.

In addition to these incursions, residents in western rural Daraa received warnings from the Israeli military to remain in their homes, further heightening tensions in the region.

Israeli airstrikes also targeted sites in and around the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Thursday night. A significant portion of the sites hit, including Mount Qasioun, where Republican Guard positions are located, had been previously targeted in similar operations.

Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz has directed the military to maintain its presence on Mount Hermon in the UN-monitored buffer zone of the Golan Heights throughout the winter. Katz emphasized the "critical security importance" of this deployment and instructed the military to ensure its readiness to sustain operations despite adverse weather conditions.

The situation in the Golan Heights has drawn widespread international criticism. On Sunday, the Israeli military occupied the demilitarized buffer zone shortly after Syrian armed opposition forces took control of large portions of the country’s territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office described the deployment as "temporary" until a force committed to the 1974 disengagement agreement could be established to secure the border. However, the United Nations condemned the move as a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres among those criticizing the actions.

The continued Israeli military presence in the region is expected to further escalate tensions and complicate the already fragile security situation in Syria. (ILKHA)