Settlers in Syria: still seeking Greater Israel

JVL Introduction

The slow occupation of Syria is spreading beyond the Golan Heights and to the control by Israel-‘s military forces we now need to add incursions by settlers.  In December 2024 the tyrannical Bashar al-Assad was ousted by Syrian rebels. and Israel immediately launched “a massive aerial bombardment” that destroyed nearly 80% of Syria’s military capacity.

Israel’s military took over more land and set up a “security buffer” and the “area now under Israeli military control is off-limits to Syrian civilians and government forces. Farmers have been unable to tend to their land, and landowners have little hope they will ever be able to access it again” Israel has taken control of an additional 177 square miles in addition to the Golan Heights that it has illegally occupied for decades.

Added to this, are settler incursions with the 5th taking place on April 22nd when c. “40 settlers affiliated with the far right Halutzei HaBashan movement, or the Pioneers of Bashan … entered Syrian territory and asked the Israeli government to legalize settlement activity there.”

This is the consequence of decades of impunity.

LL

This article was originally published by Truth Out on Tue 28 Apr 2026. Read the original here.