Israeli incursions into Syria hit 280 in September, UN says

Israeli incursions into southern Syria numbered about 280 in September, a monthly high for 2026, UN rights officials said on Friday.

It also believes Israel is holding at least 49 Syrians. However, it added that it has not yet confirmed a full and current total on its own.

UN rights chief Volker Turk fears for civilians in the south, who keep paying a price for Israeli military operations, his spokesperson Shabia Mantoo said. The figures, according to the office, come from open-source monitoring.

What the Israeli incursions involved

According to the office, the raids saw troops search homes, block movement, harass and intimidate residents, detain people arbitrarily and wreck livelihoods.

Freed detainees told the UN of torture and abuse. They spoke of beatings, being made to stand for hours and threats to harm their relatives.

Some said Israeli forces had held them for over a year without explaining why. They also described transfers between unknown sites.

At least 14 long-held detainees went free in August and September. Still, the office warned that fresh arrests continue.

Two recent cases in Quneitra

The office pointed to two incidents in Quneitra governorate this week. On Monday, a 22-year-old from Jaba lost his life to Israeli fire close to al-Hamidiyah.

Reports said he was on foot after dark, unaware that Israeli soldiers held a position in front of him. The office knew of no warning shots.

Then, on Wednesday, troops shot a farmer with a disability in the leg during a raid in northern Quneitra. The soldiers kept him in custody as he bled, then freed him after roughly an hour and a half.

Turk urged Israel to “cease actions that harass or intimidate civilians in Syrian villages.” He also sought a swift and impartial inquiry into the killing.

Beyond active fighting, the office said, troops may resort to deadly force only when it is strictly needed to save life. In addition, it said international law must provide a proper basis for any detention.

Syria accuses Israel over Golan line

The UN count of Israeli incursions came as Damascus accused Israel of building large military fortifications on Syrian soil next to the occupied Golan Heights.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry said Israel aimed to finish what it called the “Sufa 53 Line,” and in its view, the work breaks earlier agreements.

Israeli incursions near the Golan Heights have grown more frequent this year. Israeli soldiers first moved into the south and into areas to the west of Damascus in December 2024.

That month, rebel forces led by current President Ahmad Al Shara toppled Bashar Al Assad. Israel has held parts of those areas ever since. It has also vowed to keep its forces in what it calls security zones.

Meanwhile, the US backs the new leaders in Damascus. It has overseen several rounds of talks between Israeli and Syrian officials. These have focused on a halt to Israeli strikes and a pullback to the 1974 armistice line near the Golan Heights.

The UN Security Council, for its part, has restated its backing for the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the area. It also urged every state to respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.