Military Gates and Smart Bases: Details of Israel's Rapid Expansion in Southern Syria

Field reports and human rights data have revealed an unprecedented escalation in the pace of violations carried out by Israeli occupation forces in the areas of southern Syria. Sources documented more than 1670 violations during the period between August 2025 and May 2026. These movements included ground incursions and the construction of smart military gates, in addition to the confiscation of vast areas of agricultural and forest lands belonging to local residents.

Statistics indicate that March 2026 witnessed the operational peak of the occupation, with more than 320 diverse military operations, including dozens of airstrikes targeting strategic locations. These operations also directly affected civilians through arrest campaigns targeting dozens, reflecting an escalating strategy that coincided with increasing regional tensions in the area.

Israeli forces have explicitly crossed the ceasefire line signed in 1974 in the occupied Golan Heights, penetrating deep into the demilitarized zones supervised by the United Nations. This incursion extends along a strip of up to 75 kilometers, where the occupation has extended its control over vital parts of the Quneitra countryside and the western Daraa countryside, transforming them into areas of direct military influence.

Following recent political and field changes in Syria, Israel quickly moved to control approximately 350 square kilometers of land extending from Mount Hermon in the north to the Yarmouk Basin in the south. This ground advance was accompanied by an intensive aerial campaign aimed at destroying Syrian military infrastructure, including airports, air defense systems, and strategic weapons depots.

Informed sources confirmed that the occupation army established nine new military bases in the region, with preparations underway for a tenth base to strengthen its permanent presence. These bases rely on a carefully planned geographical distribution that ensures full fire and visual control over the commanding hills and vital passages connecting Syrian villages, thus impeding the movement of local residents.

Recently, Israel has been pursuing what is called the 'silent strangulation' strategy, which relies on swift incursions and the establishment of sudden checkpoints instead of major confrontations. This policy aims to impose a new security reality in the 'Triangle' area, which extends 15 kilometers deep into Syrian territory, turning border villages into isolated military barracks.

In Quneitra Governorate, which received the largest share of violations, exceeding 80%, occupation forces bulldozed thousands of dunams of forest land in the Jabata al-Khashab area. They also demolished residential homes in the town of Al-Hamidiyah to construct a fortified military base in record time, leading to the forced displacement of a number of Syrian families who lost their homes and livelihoods.

'Tal Al-Ahmar Al-Gharbi' stands out as one of the most dangerous military points established by the occupation, given its strategic location overlooking the countrysides of Quneitra, Daraa, and Damascus. This site has been equipped with advanced visual surveillance systems and long-range firing capabilities, making it an advanced command and control center that penetrates Syrian depth permanently and unprecedentedly.

As for the Daraa countryside, Israeli operations are characterized as 'qualitative and selective,' relying on night raids and concentrated artillery shelling on specific targets. Villages in the Yarmouk Basin, such as Ma'ariya and Jamla, face continuous pressure through repeated incursions and the detention of residents, in an attempt to intimidate the population and prevent any activity that might hinder Israeli military movements.

Sources documented the existence of four main military gates connecting the occupied Golan to the Syrian interior, each with a specific logistical function for the passage of heavy vehicles and armored personnel carriers. These gates serve as supply arteries for the newly established bases, facilitating rapid military maneuvering and ensuring that Israeli forces remain on constant alert within Syrian territory.

In a related context, accusations have emerged against the occupation of practicing 'environmental genocide' by spraying unknown chemical substances over agricultural lands and pastures, leading to the drying up of vast areas of vegetation cover. Observers believe that these practices aim to destroy the livelihoods of farmers and shepherds, to push them towards voluntary migration from areas adjacent to the new border strip.

On the technological front, Israel announced the 'Eastern Border Security Barrier' project at a massive cost of 1.7 billion dollars, to extend along 500 kilometers. This project includes the construction of 'smart borders' that rely entirely on artificial intelligence technologies, autonomous drones, and ground robots, to reduce reliance on human elements in protecting the new fortifications.

These military movements coincide with announced political plans to expand settlement in the occupied Golan, where the Israeli government seeks to relocate thousands of new families by 2030. The city of 'Katzrin' is considered the primary center for this settlement expansion, which aims to consolidate Israeli sovereignty and permanently change the demography in the border region.

Amidst this escalation, signs of field movements by Syrian authorities have begun to appear to repair some damaged roads and support resilient residents in border villages. Despite continuous complaints of marginalization, international pressure and demands in the Security Council have begun to shed light on the scale of the humanitarian and sovereign catastrophe imposed by the occupation in southern Syria.

Israel has shifted from large-scale ground operations to a 'silent strangulation' strategy through raids, incursions, and the establishment of permanent checkpoints.