Israeli gunfire hits farmland in southern Syria, killing livestock

Israeli forces opened fire on Thursday at agricultural land in the village of al-Rafid in the south-western countryside of Quneitra, killing a number of sheep, according to Syrian state media.

The state-run channel Al-Ikhbariya reported that Israeli troops fired at flocks of sheep in the village, which lies adjacent to the ceasefire line, resulting in the death of several animals.

The incident comes amid recurring tensions in Syrian villages near the separation line, where shootings and incursions are frequently reported, particularly across the Quneitra countryside.

Syrian media say Israeli forces carry out near-daily incursions into Syrian territory in the area, arresting civilians, setting up temporary checkpoints to search and question passersby, and destroying agricultural crops.

Despite Damascus posing no threat to Tel Aviv, Israel continues to conduct air strikes in Syria that have killed civilians and destroyed Syrian army positions, vehicles, weapons and ammunition, according to Syrian sources.

Israel has occupied most of the Syrian Golan Heights since 1967. Following developments surrounding the fall of the former Syrian government late last year, Israel declared the 1974 Disengagement Agreement void and moved into the Syrian buffer zone.

Damascus and Tel Aviv are currently engaged in negotiations over a security arrangement, with Syria demanding the withdrawal of Israeli forces to positions held before December 2014 as a precondition for any agreement.