Official announcements from governments or credible international news agencies

Israeli Forces Seize Yarmouk Basin, Advance 17 km from Damascus

Dec 17, 2024, 11:39 AM

Israeli forces have launched a significant military operation in southern Syria, advancing beyond the 1974 ceasefire line. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have reportedly seized control of over 370 square kilometers of Syrian territory, including the Yarmouk Basin area in the Daraa Governorate and the strategically important Al-Wahda Dam. Israeli tanks and military convoys have been observed entering villages such as Saida al-Golan and Ma'ariya, located near the administrative border between the governorates of Daraa and Quneitra. This marks the first time since 1967 that Israeli forces have engaged directly with local Syrian leaders, including village mayors. The operation follows the collapse of the Assad regime and has brought Israeli forces to within 17 kilometers of Damascus, the Syrian capital. The IDF has described its deployment as defensive and temporary, citing the ongoing instability in Syria.