Tensions are mounting between the locals and Israeli forces in the Yarmouk Basin region in the western countryside of Daraa, southern Syria. On Monday, residents responded to incursions by the Israeli army by re-closing roads to its patrols, and distributed leaflets, in response to Israeli ones, warning the military against entering their lands. They declared that they "will defend their land with all the strength they possess," read one leaflet. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, local sources described the situation in the region as a "ticking time bomb" that could explode at any moment. A local source in the village of Maariyah told Asharq Al-Awsat that an Israeli military incursion took place on Monday morning. It advanced from its base on Al-Jazeera Hill toward the village, stationed itself on the road connecting the village to the base, and opened the road leading to the village of Al-Ardah after residents had blocked it. Israeli troops also searched several homes in the area. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said that after the troops left the area, the residents again blocked the road with rocks to prevent a new incursion. The residents had done this before with Israeli forces reopening the blocked roads and the locals again closing it. The locals distributed leaflets in areas where Israel has been carrying out patrols, warning its forces against entering their regions. They stressed that they are the owners of the land and that they will defend it with all their might. Israeli jets had thrown leaflets on Sunday warning the locals against obstructing its troop incursions. Israeli forces have made repeated incursions into the region over the past months. They often carry out search operations, detain people and then withdraw from the area. The local source noted, however, that now, the forces are destroying infrastructure. On Sunday, a military unit damaged a power plant in Maariyah, taking it out of service and cutting power to several homes. It also damaged solar panels used for the main water well. On the possibility of a clash erupting between the locals and the troops, the source said it was unlikely because the residents are unarmed and can only attack the forces with rocks. The incursions have greatly impacted living conditions. The source revealed that obtaining water has become an arduous task and some people have resorted to freelance work because they are afraid of heading out the agricultural fields. Many are now out of work. Following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in late December 2024, Israel launched hundreds of airstrikes on military targets in Syria. Its forces carried out incursions beyond the buffer zone, reaching villages in the western countryside of Damascus, where it announced its intention to establish a demilitarized zone. Since the 1967 war, Israel has occupied parts of the Golan Heights, which it annexed in 1981 - a move not recognized by the international community, with the exception of the United States. During a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Saturday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirmed the United Nations' commitment to "Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity," expressing "grave concern over Israeli violations" of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
