According to the Israeli newspaper “Israel Hayom,” settlers attempted to establish a settlement outpost in southern Syria and raised a sign linked to the idea of “Greater Israel.” More than 10 Israeli settlers crossed the border into Syria and tried to set up the outpost named “Aloni Hebshan.” The Israeli army forces returned them to inside Israel. Israeli writer Yinon Shalom stated on the “X” platform that an Israeli family living in a West Bank settlement crossed into Syria and tried to establish a settlement outpost near the Syrian Golan Heights.

The settlers intended to stay there for a long time and raised a sign reading “Neve Hebshan,” which carries biblical connotations related to the idea of “Greater Israel.” On August 12, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with channel “i24” that he is strongly committed to the vision of “Greater Israel.” This vision allegedly includes the occupied Palestinian territories and parts of Arab countries, from the Euphrates to the Nile. The army rushed to the site and took the settlers for investigation, where they admitted they initiated the establishment of the outpost without any external support, according to their claims. No official comment has been issued by Israel or Syria. This development is considered a continuation of ongoing Israeli violations in Syria, where Israel announced the collapse of the 1974 separation of forces agreement with Damascus, coinciding with the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in late 2024.

The new Syrian administration, in power since December 8, 2024, has not posed any threat to Israel. Nevertheless, the Israeli army has repeatedly penetrated Syrian territory and conducted airstrikes that killed civilians and destroyed military sites, vehicles, weapons, and ammunition belonging to the Syrian army.