Israeli army fired on Syrian protesters in Deraa, injuring one. news
Protesters are demanding an end to the Israeli military presence in the border town of the southern governorate.
The Israeli military says a Syrian protester protesting against the military presence in a border village in southern Syria has been shot and wounded by Israeli forces.
The man, identified by local media as Maher al-Hussein, was hit in the leg by Israeli gunfire on Friday as protesters gathered in the city of Mariyah to demand an end to Israeli military presence in the area .
A local journalist told Al Jazeera that al-Hussein was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Since opposition forces ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power on December 8, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes on Syria to prevent military equipment from falling into enemy hands.
In a move widely condemned internationally, Israel also sent troops into the occupied Golan Heights and the UN-patrolled buffer zone beyond it, calling it a defensive and temporary measure.
“During protests against the (Israeli army’s) activities in the Ma’oriya region of southern Syria, the (Israeli army) called on protesters to keep themselves away from troops,” the army said.
The village is just outside the southern point of the UN-patrolled area.
“After identifying the threat, the troops took action as per standard operating procedures against the threat. …The protester was shot in the leg,” the army said.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which monitors the war, said Israeli soldiers were stationed in a barracks in the village.
“A young man was wounded by gunfire from Israeli forces in the village of Mariya in the Daraa region during a protest condemning Israeli incursions,” SOHR said.
“During the protests, Israeli forces stationed at the Al-Jazeera Barracks fired directly at protesters, hitting a young man in the leg.”
It is unclear how Syria’s new interim government, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, will handle Israel’s military actions across the country. How are you planning?
In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera this week, interim government spokesman Obaid Arnaut said the government’s approach “will be outlined in the near future”, without giving details.
“People are angry and think that governance has been replaced by Israeli aggression. “At this time I have no further information on this matter.” “Our primary goal is to ensure that Syria remains safe from any external threat.”
