Israeli Forces Raid Syrian Journalist Sanad Ayed Al-Hamad’s Home In Saida Al-Golan, Quneitra

The Syrian Journalists Union condemned an Israeli raid on the home of Syrian journalist Sanad Ayed al-Hamad in the town of Saida al-Golan in Quneitra province, southern Syria, describing it as a violation of international law.

“Israeli forces – at dawn on Wednesday night – launched a campaign of raids in the town of Saida al-Jolan in the Quneitra countryside, amid continued Israeli violations of the 1974 disengagement agreement and escalating violations in southern Syria”

Al-Jazeera Net

SANA reported that on Tuesday night Israeli forces entered Saida al-Golan, deployed inside the village, and questioned several residents including al-Hamad before withdrawing from the area.

Al-Jazeera Net

The union said al-Hamad was questioned during the operation and stressed that the incident violated international humanitarian law and provisions safeguarding journalists working in conflict-affected areas, including UN Security Council Resolution 2222 (2015).

The union held Israeli authorities responsible for the treatment of the journalist and his family, describing the move as part of broader efforts to intimidate media professionals and restrict press activity.

In a separate report, Al-Jazeera Net said Israeli forces launched raids at dawn on Wednesday night in Saida al-Jolan, including the home of journalist Sanad al-Handaawi, who works for the directorate, and that local sources indicated the occupation forces questioned him before withdrawing about half an hour after their intrusion.

Syrian news agencies reported Israeli shelling targeting two Syrian villages in the governorates of Quneitra and Daraa, with the results not known immediately and Syrian authorities not commenting on the two incidents.

Arab 48 said SANA reported Israeli occupation forces were targeting the vicinity of the Kodna forest and the eastern Tel Ahmar in the southern Quneitra countryside with several artillery shells, while Al-Ikhbariya said an artillery shell was fired from the occupied Golan on the outskirts of Jamla village in the Yarmouk basin in the Daraa countryside.

ANHA

The shelling came amid ongoing Israeli violations of Syria's sovereignty, according to Damascus authorities, including raids and searches of homes, setting up checkpoints, and the detention of civilians including children and shepherds.

In a separate account, صحيفة الخليج described an Israeli artillery bombardment targeting the Quneitra and Daraa countryside on Saturday with no information on the results amid repeated violations and Syria's call for a full withdrawal from southern Syria.

The same report said Syria continues to demand Israel's withdrawal from its territory, stressing that all measures it takes in southern Syria are invalid and void and do not entail any legal effect under international law.

Al-Jazeera Net reported that activists monitored via video clips the construction of an Israeli watchtower on eastern Tel Ahmar, about 1,200 meters from western Tel Ahmar where an Israeli base is located.

“What are the Golan Heights and who controls them”

BBC

It also said the Quneitra Information Directorate reported that Israeli forces raided 10 houses in Saida al-Jolan, including the home of journalist Sanad al-Handaawi, and that local sources indicated the occupation forces questioned him before withdrawing about half an hour after their intrusion.

The report said the occupation army regularly carries out incursions into southern Syria and the de-escalation zone, during which raids and arrests of inhabitants occur, while about 46 of them remain in Israeli prisons since December 8, 2024, until the end of May, according to the statistics of the 'Sajal' center.

It added that the center noted Israeli forces carried out about 19 raid operations targeting civilian homes, farms, and civil facilities in several villages of Quneitra and Daraa during the past month, including thorough searches, questioning of residents, detention of some individuals, and destruction of property.

In remarks cited in the same report, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said that Tel Aviv will not withdraw from areas it regards as 'security' in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, to confront what he described as 'near and far threats'.