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Deterioration of conditions in the villages of Bureika and Bir Ajam in Quneitra Province due to repeated Israeli violations
The villages of Bureika and Bir Ajam in Quneitra Province, southern Syria, are experiencing widespread displacement among the Shaker population due to ongoing tensions and violations by Israeli forces in the area near the ceasefire line with Israel.
In an interview with Anadolu Agency, the village head, Saifuddin Jawayesh, confirmed that the number of families residing there has decreased from about 250 families before 2011 to around 60 currently. The majority of those remaining are elderly, as the youth have left the area due to lack of security and deteriorating living conditions.
He explained that both villages are located about three kilometers from the ceasefire line and are continuously subjected to surveillance and incursions by Israeli forces, which conduct daily patrols during daytime and evening hours, sometimes entering homes and detaining some residents for short periods.
He also pointed out that Israel has established military checkpoints on the surrounding hills and imposed sieges on residential neighborhoods, leading to the destruction of several homes and civilian facilities, including United Nations sites damaged during military incursions.
He added that the movement of residents in the villages has become almost halted, with shortages of transportation and difficulty for students and employees to move around. Commercial and social activities have significantly declined, whereas the area used to welcome visitors from Damascus and Daraa.
Jawayesh called for Israel to withdraw to the pre-ceasefire line, emphasizing that recent attacks have resulted in the arrest of several locals in recent months.
In a broader context, Israeli control expanded since the end of 2024 after the ousting of the former Syrian regime, establishing a security strip 15 kilometers deep in southern Syria, inhabited by more than 40,000 civilians living under direct Israeli military control.
