United Nations: 280 Israeli incursions into Syria in September and 49 detainees

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights announced the documentation of approximately 280 armed Israeli incursions into Syria during September 2026, the highest monthly figure since the beginning of the year. It confirmed that at least 49 Syrians remain detained by Israel, with allegations of torture and ill-treatment. It called for an investigation into the killing of a Syrian young man.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a statement issued in Geneva, announced the documentation of approximately 280 armed Israeli incursions into Syrian territory during the month of September 2026 alone. The Commission described this figure as "the highest monthly figure since the beginning of this year." Commission spokesperson Shabia Mantoo explained that the documentation was done through open-source monitoring, and the incursions included house raids, imposing movement restrictions, harassing civilians, arbitrary detention, and destroying their livelihoods. The Commission confirmed that at least 49 Syrians remain in Israeli custody, with the total number unverifiable. Released detainees reported that some detainees spent periods exceeding a year without knowing the reasons, along with allegations of torture and ill-treatment including beatings, forced standing for long periods, releasing dogs, and threats to harm detainees and their families. The Commission noted the release of at least 14 people during August and September. It also noted the martyrdom of young man Muhammad Ayman al-Dabour (22 years old) by occupation forces' gunfire near the town of Hamidiya in Quneitra province, without warning shots. High Commissioner Volker Türk called for a swift and impartial investigation into the incident, and demanded an end to raiding Syrian villages, harassing civilians, and respecting detainees' rights.