Quneitra: Israeli forces briefly detained two shepherds in Syria’s southern Quneitra province.

According to Anadolu Agency, the SANA news agency reported that Israeli troops arrested a young man west of Ruwayhina village and another youth west of Kodna village while they were tending sheep. Both individuals were later released.

Israeli forces entered the western outskirts of Ruwayhina and took one shepherd to an undisclosed location before releasing him hours later. Israeli forces also fired two artillery shells toward the village’s surroundings, with no immediate reports of casualties or material damage. In a separate incident, a teenager was detained while herding sheep west of Kodna village and was released after several hours.

Earlier reports from the state-run Alikhbariah TV indicated that Israeli troops had arrested a child west of Kodna village, who was also released hours later. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military regarding these detentions.

Damascus has reiterated its commitment to the 1974 disengagement agreement between the two sides. However, Tel Aviv announced that it was canceling the agreement following the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024. Recent Israeli actions in the region have included ground incursions, artillery shelling, arrests of civilians, and the establishment of checkpoints. These actions have disrupted the countryside of Quneitra and Daraa in southern Syria.

The Israeli actions continue despite the formation of a contact mechanism between Syria and Israel on January 6, under US supervision, intended to coordinate information exchange, reduce military escalation, and explore diplomatic and trade opportunities. Syrians argue that these continued Israeli actions limit their ability to restore stability and hinder efforts to attract investment for economic improvement.