Syrian state media says civilian shot dead in village of Jamla, Daraa, as troops search homes and position snipers amid ongoing cross-border operations.
Israeli forces shot and killed a civilian with disabilities during a military raid on a village in southern Syria on Thursday, according to the Syrian state news agency SANA and local reports.
The incident took place in the village of Jamla (also referred to as Jamleh) in the western countryside of Daraa governorate. SANA reported that Israeli troops entered the village in several military vehicles, deployed in the eastern district, positioned snipers on the rooftops of residential houses, and moved through neighbourhoods while searching homes.
During the operation, forces opened fire and fatally wounded a man described as having special needs or disabilities. His body was later transferred to Daraa National Hospital, according to the agency. Independent monitors and analysts, including Syria specialist Charles Lister, identified the victim as Muaz al-Salama. Reports indicate a convoy of up to 12 vehicles took part in the incursion; the man was hit by gunfire and his body was subsequently handed over to Syrian Civil Defence personnel.
Pattern of repeated incursions:
The killing comes amid a sustained series of Israeli ground operations in southern Syria, particularly in Daraa and neighbouring Quneitra governorates. These raids, which have intensified since late 2024, frequently involve searches of civilian homes, temporary checkpoints, detentions, and damage to agricultural land and property.
Syrian authorities and local residents say the operations violate the 1974 Disengagement Agreement that established a buffer zone following the 1973 war. Damascus has repeatedly called on the international community to pressure Israel to withdraw from areas it has entered and to halt activities that affect civilians.
Earlier this month, Israeli forces shot and wounded another man with a disability during an incursion into Jubata al-Khashab in northern Quneitra before briefly detaining him. Other recent incidents have included the bulldozing of olive trees, restriction of farmers’ access to land, and multiple detentions of residents.
Disabled Civilian Reportedly Killed in Israeli Raid in Southern Syria:
Israeli military activity in the south has been justified by Israeli officials as necessary for security along the border with the occupied Golan Heights, particularly after the change of government in Damascus. Critics, including Syrian officials and human rights observers, describe the operations as expanding control and creating a de facto buffer zone that disrupts civilian life and livelihoods.
The United Nations and human rights groups have previously expressed concern over the cumulative impact of these raids on the local population, noting reports of arbitrary detentions, intimidation and destruction of agricultural assets.
At the time of writing, the Israeli military had not issued a public statement specifically addressing the reported killing in Jamla. SANA and local sources continue to document what they describe as frequent violations in the area.
The death of the disabled civilian has drawn further attention to the human cost of the ongoing military presence in southern Syria, where residents say daily life remains under constant pressure from cross-border operations.