ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Israeli army set up a temporary checkpoint near one of Syria's southern villages and inspected passersby, Syria's state media reported on Saturday.
Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that a convoy of Israeli army vehicles consisting of three military vehicles advanced into the outskirts of al-Samadaniya village in the southern province of Quneitra.
The Israeli army "set up a temporary checkpoint at the Eastern al-Samadaniya intersection, where it proceeded to search passersby, before withdrawing from the area," SANA reported.
The outlet also said an Israeli military convoy of more than 15 vehicles had advanced into another village in the same area and searched a house and a fodder warehouse before withdrawing.
The Israeli army has carried out similar operations in the area on numerous occasions.
Two shepherds were detained by Israeli forces in the area last week, SANA reported on Monday.
The area lies within the occupied Golan Heights, the highest and most significant military vantage point, sitting at roughly 2800 m overlooking Syria from northern Israel. Images published earlier this year by Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency showed an Israeli flag raised at a newly built military position in the Tal al-Ahmar area.
Damascus has repeatedly condemned Israeli military activity inside Syrian territory, calling it a violation of sovereignty and the 1974 disengagement agreement establishing a UN-monitored buffer zone following the Arab-Israeli war of 1967.
The frontier has grown increasingly tense as regional fighting involving Israel, Iran, and allied groups has spilled across several neighboring countries.
.png&w=3840&q=75)
