Israel launches aerial and ground attacks on Syria's Quneitra countryside

Israel’s army has carried out attacks in southern Syria, dropping bombs and sending ground troops into two villages, despite talks aimed at easing tension between the two countries.

The Israeli military bombed an abandoned site in Al Tawahine, Quneitra governorate, while its troops raided the central area of Tal Kroum, Syria’s state-run Sana news agency said.

The Quneitra governorate borders Lebanon, Jordan and Israel. The city of Quneitra is part of the demilitarised buffer zone between Syria and Israel.

A convoy of 16 vehicles crossed from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and advanced into Al Asbah village, where troops set up a checkpoint, searched homes and used surveillance drones over the area.

Since the fall of Bashar Al Assad in December, Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes on various parts of Syria, destroying army assets, and its forces have seized the UN-patrolled buffer zone.

Satellite images show Israel has built several military bases in the south, both inside and outside the zone. The latest attack comes as the two countries take part in US-mediated talks on de-escalating their conflict.

Although the transitional Syrian authorities, led by President Ahmad Al Shara, insist Syria does not seek conflict with its neighbours, Israel says it does not trust them. Syria has condemned what it calls repeated aggression, saying it obstructs stability efforts and constitutes a blatant violation of sovereignty. It has urged the international community to take firm action against Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late last month that his government was engaged in talks aimed at demilitarising southern Syria, implicitly acknowledging for the first time contact with the new Syrian regime.

Earlier, Syrian state media reported that Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani had met an Israeli delegation led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in Paris on August 19. They spoke about the situation in Druze-majority Sweida province after deadly sectarian clashes there last month.