Key facts
- Israeli forces fired on civilians in Syria's Daraa province.
- At least six civilians, including women and children, were killed in an Israeli strike on the town of Kouya.
- Dozens of injuries were reported, and hundreds of residents fled the area.
- The incident follows a pattern of escalating tensions in Kouya since December 2024.
- Israel stated the shelling was in response to incoming fire.
Israeli forces opened fire on civilians in Syria's Daraa province, according to Syrian state television Al-Ikhbariya. The incident reportedly forced some residents to leave their homes in the village of Maariya, with no initial reports of deaths or injuries.
However, other reports indicate a more severe outcome. Syria TV reported that Israeli shelling struck residential areas, killing at least six civilians, including women and children, in the town of Kouya in the Yarmouk Basin region of western Daraa. The preliminary death toll is expected to rise, with multiple injuries also reported. Residents stated that the shelling sparked panic and prompted dozens of families to flee toward nearby villages.
The Syrian state news agency SANA confirmed four fatalities but had not updated its figures at the time of reporting. The town of Kouya, located nine kilometers from the disengagement line with Israel, has seen increased tensions since mid-December 2024. Following the collapse of the Assad regime, Israeli forces entered the town, demanding residents surrender their weapons, which was rejected. Residents also refused Israeli-distributed aid.
On December 20, residents protested, calling for an Israeli withdrawal, and Israeli forces reportedly opened fire on demonstrators, injuring several civilians. Israeli troops later withdrew from the town's center but fortified positions around its outskirts, erecting military outposts that obstructed access to farmlands.
Tuesday's escalation began when an Israeli military unit attempting to advance into farmlands surrounding Kouya was met with gunfire, forcing a retreat. In response, Israeli forces launched an intense artillery and drone assault on the town and adjacent valleys, resulting in civilian casualties and destruction. Israel's military claimed the shelling was in response to incoming fire from across the demarcation line, though this was not confirmed. The attacks coincided with a nationwide internet shutdown in Syria.