Israel army plants mines in Quneitra, while two soldiers killed in Al-Bab

Israeli forces stepped up their incursions into Syria’s Quneitra governorate on Sunday, planting mines in the governorate’s northern countryside and raiding more villages, according to local media.

The mines were reportedly planted around military outposts in the Jabata al-Khashab region, according to The New Arab's affiliate Syria TV, in a breach of international law concerning the use of mines in protected areas.

The mines also raise fears over the safety of residents and their potentially hazardous impact on the environment.

Activists have posted images and videos of the mines online in an effort to raise awareness about the dangerous nature of Israel's actions, with around 2,130 children worldwide suffering life-changing injuries or death each year from landmines, including dozens in Syria.

The Jabata al-Khashab area has also been subjected to frequent Israeli bulldozing and uprooting of oak trees over the months, amid Israel’s wide incursions into Syria's Quneitra governorate.

Environmental activists have repeatedly raised alarm concerning this, as it constitutes a violation of Syrian sovereignty and theft of local property.

Also on Sunday, Israeli forces detained a young Syrian man identified as Izz al-Din al-Munif at a checkpoint in the village of Buraiqa, in the central Quneitra countryside.

Al-Munif was reportedly taken to an undisclosed location for several hours, the Syrian Al-Ikhbariya channel said, while the reason for his arrest was not disclosed. Syrian media outlets said he was released later.

According to the Syrian official news agency, SANA, Israeli forces entered the villages of al-Razaniyah and Saida al-Hanout with military vehicles on Sunday, setting up temporary checkpoints between the two villages. Israeli forces reportedly stopped bread distributors from serving either village, raising concerns over access to food and basic needs in areas raided by the Israeli military.

Activists told The New Arab’s Arabic-language edition, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that Israeli troops fired flares as a means of intimidation in the Al-Saqri checkpoint area, as well as the Tal Koroum area of central Quneitra. They also searched passers-by, confiscated motorcycles from young men, and set up additional checkpoints.

Ahmed Al-Khaled, a resident of Quneitra, told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Israeli forces are pursuing a "dual policy" with locals, saying that sometimes they harass and detain them, but also provide them with humanitarian relief – often forcing them to accept it.

Al-Khaled added that Israeli aircraft are constantly flying over Syrian airspace, monitoring Quneitra and its residents. Soldiers often ask locals about government support in the area, with the intention of detaining individuals.

There are at least 19 known Israeli military checkpoints in southern Syria, established following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December last year and in violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. Since then, Israel launched an invasion of the country, with Quneitra and Daraa being the main sites of frequent Israeli raids. Israel has also struck government facilities in other parts of the country, including the ministry of defence in Damascus.

Israel has been accused of exploiting the power vacuum in Syria, which came after the Assad regime's fall, to increase the amount of territory it controls in the region. Additionally, Israel has been accused of stoking sectarian tensions to advance its 'Greater Israel' agenda.

This has prompted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to stress the need for a security deal with Israel, given the frequent threats to Syria’s sovereignty.

Soldiers killed amid security tensions

Unknown assailants, meanwhile, shot and killed two Syrian soldiers in the city of al-Bab, in Aleppo’s eastern countryside.

The army personnel were members of the 80th Division, according to Syria TV.

The defence ministry called the attack "treacherous and cowardly," adding that the "competent authorities are working on the case and seeking to identify those involved".

This comes as Syria has witnessed an uptick in security incidents involving both army officials and civilians.

On Tuesday, three civilians were killed and four others were injured as a result of gunfire targeting their car in the town of Kafr Maris, in the Idlib region.

Previously, a military trainer at the Ministry of Defence, Saddam Hamidi, was shot and killed in the city of Sarmada.