Israeli forces shelled the countryside of Syria's Quneitra province on Sunday and reportedly carried out a ground incursion into western Daraa, according to Syrian state broadcaster Alikhbariah TV.
The broadcaster said Israeli artillery rounds landed near agricultural land outside the village of Tarnajah in northern Quneitra, in the latest escalation along the volatile frontier as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visits the region.
In a separate incident before dawn, Israeli forces, backed by three military vehicles and a bulldozer, reportedly advanced into the villages of Maariya and Al-Ardah in the Yarmouk Basin, where they cleared a road and established a checkpoint inside Al-Ardah.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the reported shelling or ground incursion.
Guterres calls for end to violations by Israel
The reported Israeli aggression coincides with Guterres' three-day visit to Syria, during which he is expected to visit the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the occupied Golan Heights as part of efforts to monitor commitments under the Syria-Israel ceasefire agreement.
Speaking alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Damascus on Saturday, Guterres condemned what he described as repeated violations of Syria's sovereignty.
"Violations of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity are unacceptable and must cease," Guterres said. "What is happening in the region around the Golan Heights is totally unacceptable."
He reaffirmed the United Nations' commitment to Syria's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, saying Syrian land "is Syrian and cannot be taken away."
Tensions persist along southern border
Southern Syria has seen recurring Israeli attacks in recent months, including raids, searches, arrests and the establishment of military checkpoints.
