Israeli Forces in Syria's Yarmouk Basin Region: Interview
The incursion of Israeli forces into Syrian territory since Assad’s downfall has not been limited to al-Qunaytra governorate along the northeastern border with the Golan Heights. It has also extended into the territory of Syria’s Deraa governorate, including the Yarmouk Basin region in the southwest of the governorate, near the southeastern border with the Golan Heights and the border with Jordan. Many years ago (specifically 2016-2018), the Yarmouk Basin area was controlled by an Islamic State affiliate called Jaysh Khalid bin al-Walid. Although this affiliate focused on fighting the insurgents at the time who were backed by an operations centre based out of Amman in Jordan, the Israelis occasionally took action against any perceived threats to its borders, such as assassinating one ‘Abu Hazim Tawhid,’ who worked as a weapons/arming official within Jaysh Khalid and was a person with whom I had contact.
Given the prior history of the Islamic State in the area, it is not surprising that the Israelis would seek to extend their ‘minimise the threat of anarchy’ policy to this border area with the Golan too. To give some more details about recent Israeli actions in the Yarmouk Basin area, I present an interview conducted today with a resident of the Yarmouk Basin village of Jamla (where I have to come to know a number of people), though the interviewee requested anonymity since the matter is rather sensitive.
Map showing the position of Jamlah in Deraa governorate, with the Golan to the left and Jordan somewhat further to the south.
Q: Where are the Israelis present exactly?