Israel maintains an expanded security presence in southern Syria following the December 2024 fall of the Assad regime, including occupation of the former UNDOF buffer zone, establishment of roughly ten military posts, and construction of the Sufa 53 fortified line several kilometers inside Syrian territory east of the Golan Heights. In September 2026 alone, open-source monitoring recorded approximately 280 incidents of Israeli ground incursions, raids, checkpoints, arrests, and shelling—primarily in Quneitra and Daraa provinces—the highest monthly total that year. Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz, have publicly stated troops will remain in the security zone indefinitely to counter threats from Iran-linked groups and prevent cross-border attacks. Syria has responded with repeated official condemnations, UN appeals, and demands for full withdrawal to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement lines, while pursuing U.S.-mediated security talks. Low-level incidents, including shootings of suspects near Israeli posts and targeted strikes, have continued into mid-October.