Syrians in occupied towns look to diplomacy to reclaim land
Residents of southern Syria hold cautious optimism after talks but remain sceptical about regaining homes and territory
SYRIA/ISRAEL (MNTV) — Syrians living in towns under Israeli control have expressed guarded hope that fresh diplomatic efforts could help them recover territory and homes, even as many remain doubtful such plans will translate into real change on the ground.
Hours after Damascus and Jerusalem agreed to reduce military tensions, Israeli forces entered the village of Tel Al Ahmar Al Sharqi and raised the Israeli flag over a building, underscoring lingering mistrust among local residents.
Osama Al Bousa, a resident of Ghadir Al Bustan near the territory seized by Israel last year, talking to The National said any meaningful progress must begin with a halt to drone strikes that continue to target people in the plains.
He said the recent deal could be useful if it stops displacement caused by raids that forced many families to consider leaving their homes.
The two sides held talks in Paris this week under the supervision of U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack.
They agreed to create a U.S.-supervised joint “fusion” center to coordinate intelligence sharing, de-escalation measures, diplomatic engagement and potential commercial activities, but the agreement did not include a requirement for Israel to withdraw from occupied areas.
Israeli forces have frequently carried out incursions into southern Syria, capturing land, demolishing homes and constructing military bases, a strategy analysts describe as aimed at establishing security buffer zones along the borders with Syria and Lebanon.
Many families in Hamadieh and nearby villages lost their homes after an Israeli base was built in the buffer zone.
Agriculture and livestock, the main sources of livelihood, have been devastated. Without withdrawal, the diplomatic framework offers little benefit.
Satellite imagery indicates that Israel has continued building military installations both inside and outside the U.N. buffer zone, an 80-kilometer strip separating Syria and Israel since the 1973 Arab–Israeli war.
A Syrian soldier in Deraa, speaking anonymously, said negotiations remain incomplete, noting Israel’s insistence that weapons be removed from the southern region while Syrian forces and civilians reject any continued Israeli presence.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Shibani and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan discussed the developments in Paris, with Turkiye’s media reporting that talks covered preparations for future meetings.
Some Turkish commentators warned that the bilateral understanding between Syria and Israel could marginalize Ankara, which has expanded its influence in Syria since the Assad regime fell.
Damascus faces intense pressure from the United States to finalize a security agreement with Israel, which could lay the groundwork for broader diplomatic ties. However, key disagreements persist over Israeli demands to demilitarize parts of Syrian territory in return for withdrawal from areas occupied since December 2024.
A resident of Hamadieh whose home was destroyed said that, for locals, any improvement in cross-border relations matters less than the ability to return to normal life and rebuild livelihoods.
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