Israeli troops encountered resistance from residents in the Syrian town of Abdin on Sunday, as locals blocked roads with rocks and threw stones at military vehicles. In response, Israeli forces fired warning shots and artillery rounds, though no casualties were reported. The incident marks the latest escalation in southern Syria, where an Israeli-occupied buffer zone has fueled tensions.
Clashes in Abdin
Residents of Abdin, located near a UN-patrolled buffer zone now controlled by Israeli forces, attempted to repel the military incursion. Witnesses reported that Israeli troops first fired warning shots at walls and between protesters before launching artillery rounds at the village. Most residents fled, and many remained too afraid to return on Monday.
“They come into the village regularly, every few days,” said resident Mohammad Al-Hassan. “They come in armored 4x4 vehicles, they roam around the village and search some houses, they knock on doors and if people don’t answer the door they break it down and enter the houses. Women and children start screaming, it’s a terrifying thing.”
Background of the Buffer Zone
Israel seized control of the UN-patrolled buffer zone in southern Syria in December 2024, following the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar Assad. Initially described as a temporary measure to protect borders from militant groups, top Israeli officials have since indicated plans to occupy the area indefinitely. The Israeli military presence is part of a broader strategy after the October 2023 attacks, with similar buffer zones established in Gaza and Lebanon.
Israel claims these zones are necessary to prevent attacks, despite no cross-border attacks from Syria since Assad’s ouster, except for two rockets from a little-known group. However, Israeli incursions have sparked resistance and sometimes deadly clashes.
Syrian Condemnation and Diplomatic Stalemate
Syria’s interim president, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, has called for Israel to withdraw from the 235-square-kilometer (91-square-mile) zone. The Syrian government condemned the incursion and shelling in Abdin. The clashes followed an earlier incident on Sunday, where the Israeli military reported killing two militants planning to attack troops. The mayor of Hadar, Imad Hassoun, said two unknown individuals in a pickup truck were killed by an explosion, with their bodies taken by Israeli forces. “They weren’t from Hadar. If they were, we would immediately know,” he said.
US-mediated talks between Israel and Syria in France aimed at a security agreement appear to have stalled, leaving residents anxious. “We need the government to support us a little so we can remain steadfast in our villages,” said Sobhi Al-Tawlbi, 66, a farmer struggling to access water and crops.
Residents Fear Instability
Many residents are leaving due to the unstable security situation, lack of jobs, and poor services. The nearest government checkpoint is 10 kilometers (6 miles) away, and those who stay face water and electricity shortages. Al-Hassan expressed the frustration of many: “Why are they bothering us? We are living here peacefully in this border area.”
