Key facts
- Israeli forces abducted a young man during an incursion into Al-Hamidiya town in southwestern Syria.
- Israeli forces demolished 16 houses in Al-Hamidiya town with bulldozers.
- Hebrew graffiti was found on the walls of Quneitra's provincial courthouse after Israeli forces occupied it.
- Human Rights Watch accused Israeli forces of forcibly displacing residents and arbitrarily detaining them.
- Syria and Israel are in talks to finalize security and military agreements by year-end.
Israeli forces abducted a young man during an incursion into Al-Hamidiya town in southwestern Syria, according to state television. The incident is part of ongoing Israeli military operations in the Quneitra region, which have included house raids, detentions, and demolitions. Mohammed al-Ali, a resident of Hamidiya, reported that Israeli forces entered under cover of darkness and demolished his house along with 15 others using bulldozers.
These operations have raised fears among residents and drawn criticism from Syria's government and human rights groups. Human Rights Watch has accused Israeli forces of forcibly displacing residents and arbitrarily detaining them, calling it a potential war crime. Hebrew graffiti was also found on the walls of Quneitra's provincial courthouse, which Israeli forces occupied for weeks.
Syria and Israel have technically been at war since 1948, but recent years have seen increased Israeli military activity in Syria, including air strikes and incursions. Despite these actions, both sides are reportedly engaged in direct talks toward a security agreement, with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in New York to address the UN General Assembly. Syria and Israel are expected to finalize security and military agreements by the end of the year, and Syrian government forces have reportedly pulled heavy weapons out of the area.