A military convoy from Israel positioned itself yesterday along the route connecting the village of Al-Hamidiyah to the governor’s building in Quneitra, located in southern Syria. According to reports, the convoy consisted of 14 military vehicles, including three Merkava tanks. The reasons behind this increased Israeli military presence in the region remain unclear.
The report also noted that Israeli forces released two young men they had detained on Saturday during an unexpected incursion into the central Quneitra countryside.
Southern Syria has witnessed multiple Israeli incursions into the buffer zone, alongside the continued expansion of Israeli military forces in Quneitra province.
In eastern Syria, local security forces discovered a cache containing a significant amount of weapons and ammunition, linked to remnants of the previous regime, in the town of Muhassan within the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor.
According to a statement by the Deir ez-Zor governorate, “Our internal security forces successfully uncovered a large stockpile of weaponry and ammunition in an abandoned house in Muhassan.” This operation is part of an security initiative launched by the local security leadership aimed at pursuing remnants of the previous regime and Iranian militias in the area.
Missing Persons File
Meanwhile, Syrian authorities have pledged to assist the United States in locating American citizens missing in Syria, as reported by the U.S. envoy to Damascus, Tom Barak. This announcement follows the lifting of economic sanctions and a newly chapters in bilateral relations.
Barak expressed on social media, “A significant step forward. The new Syrian government has agreed to help the United States identify the whereabouts of American citizens or their remains to facilitate their return home.”
He emphasized, “President Donald Trump has made it clear that returning American citizens home or honoring their remains with dignity is a top priority everywhere. The new Syrian government will aid us in fulfilling this commitment.” Among those listed as missing are Austin Tice, Majd Kalmaz, and Kayla Mueller.
A source familiar with the discussions between the Syrian and American governments regarding missing persons indicated that there are 11 names of other individuals on Washington’s list, who are Syrians with American citizenship, although no further details were provided.