Israel Establishes Security Zone in Southern Syria During UN Visit

Israeli forces launched a military incursion into southern Syria on July 26, 2026, entering the villages of Maariya and Al-Aarda in the Yarmuk basin of Daraa province. Soldiers used military vehicles and a bulldozer to establish a checkpoint in Al-Aarda and distributed leaflets to residents. Additionally, Israeli artillery fired shells at farmland near Taranja in Quneitra province. Israel claims the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement has collapsed and asserts the need to maintain a security zone in the region.

These actions coincided with a visit by Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, who met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Guterres condemned the violations of Syrian sovereignty and announced that a comprehensive report on the situation would be submitted to the UN Security Council by the end of the month. He also urged the international community to remove all sanctions imposed on Syria during the Bashar al-Assad era to facilitate economic recovery.

Syrian reactions to the incursion were split between diplomatic outreach and firm demands. Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani demanded an immediate and unconditional Israeli withdrawal, describing the occupation as a direct threat to regional security. Conversely, President Ahmed al-Sharaa stated that Syria has no interest in confrontation and is seeking a security agreement with Israel to pave the way for peace, provided Syria does not concede rights to the occupied Golan Heights. The two nations have agreed to establish an intelligence-sharing mechanism through direct talks.