Israeli forces kidnap three Syrians in Quneitra province as incursions continue

Israeli forces kidnapped three people in the Syria's southern province of Quneitra on Friday, as the Israeli military continues its incursions in southwest Syria since December.

An Israeli patrol arrested three people and confiscated a farming tractor they were using while transporting trees uprooted by the Israeli forces in the Quneitra area, local journalist Noor al-Hassan told The New Arab’s sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

The three men were then taken to a military base in the area recently established by the Israeli military. It is unclear if they're still detained or have been released.

The Israeli forces stationed at a military base near the town of Jubata al-Khashab in the Quneitra province fired live ammunition at farmers who were in close-by lands, said Hassan.

An Israeli military patrol had gone into the town of Um al-Azam in Quneitra on Thursday evening, setting up a temporary checkpoint and snatching four men, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported.

The men were later released, but the incident took place in a zone the Israeli army classifies as a closed military area.

Since the December overthrow of former president Bashar al-Assad's regime, Israel has expanded its military presence across southwestern Syria and carried out hundreds of airstrikes, primarily targeting military and government sites.

Israeli troops have been deployed across the demilitarised zone on the Syrian side of the armistice line near the occupied Golan Heights, a boundary that once separated opposing forces.

They’ve since captured dozens of villages in the Quneitra governorate as well as the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, alleging security purposes as an Islamist government rose to power in Damascus.

A number of people have also been detained, some of them accused by Israel of having ties to Iran or Iran-backed groups.

Israel and Syria have been engaged in direct talks to reportedly reach a security deal and de-escalate tensions, but there is growing speculation that the two could also ink a peace agreement.

There are reports that say Syria could even join the controversial Abraham Accords and normalise ties with Israel.