The Israeli army released four Syrian citizens, Thursday, 31 July, after arresting them during a patrol in the village of Umm al-Azam in the countryside of Quneitra.

Activist Ahmad Abu Zein told Enab Baladi that a patrol consisting of two Israeli army vehicles entered the village of Umm al-Azam and arrested four civilians who were passing near the patrol. They were taken to the army’s base in the village of al-Adnaniyah.

The patrol released the four citizens approximately two hours after detaining them, following an interrogation, according to Abu Zein.

There has been no official Syrian comment on the incident at the time of publishing this report.

Meanwhile, an official source denied to the state-run channel al-Ikhbariyah on Wednesday that there was any Israeli troop presence in Daraa and Quneitra.

The source stated that parties promoting such rumors and speaking of the “displacement” of southern Syrian residents aim to undermine government efforts to restore stability in As-Suwayda and ensure the return of locals to their homes.

Previous Arrests

On 2 July, the Israeli army announced the arrest of an Iranian cell in the areas of Umm al-Loqas and Ain al-Basali in Quneitra, southern Syria.

The Israeli army spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, said on his official account on X that forces from the “474th Brigade” of the “210th Division” carried out a special operation to capture individuals operated by Iran in coordination with field investigators affiliated with “Unit 504.”

He added that the operation was carried out based on intelligence received in recent weeks, noting that “the forces found during the operation weapons, including firearms and hand grenades.”

Adraee stated that the division’s forces continue their efforts to “prevent the establishment of any terrorist presence in Syria and to protect the citizens of Israel, especially the residents of the Golan Heights.”

A correspondent for Enab Baladi reported that an Israeli force raided a farm in al-Basali and arrested Amer al-Ahmad, Malik al-Ahmad, and Samer al-Ahmad, all of Palestinian nationality residing in the town.

The force reportedly took them into the Golan, and there has been no information about their fate so far.

On 12 June, the Israeli army also announced the arrest of individuals it claimed belonged to the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the town of Beit Jinn, southwest of the capital Damascus.

Administratively, Beit Jinn is part of the Qatana district in the Rural Damascus governorate.

Spokesman Adraee said on his X account that forces from the “Alexanderoni-3 Brigade” under the 210th Division arrested Hamas-affiliated individuals operating in the Syrian town of Beit Jinn.