Mount Hermon

Israel's army is preparing to install polling stations in occupied areas of Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria for the 27 October general election. Soldiers stationed beyond Israel's internationally recognized borders will be enabled to vote through these stations, as approved by the Central Elections Committee.

A fringe Israeli settler group called 'Pioneers of Bashan' has been sneaking into southern Syria to claim land for Jewish settlements. The Israeli military recently intercepted the group near the border but avoided confrontation upon recognizing them as religious Jews. The group aims to establish settlements in areas including Quneitra, Daraa, and Sweida, citing biblical historical claims and security rationale for the Golan Heights.

A fringe Israeli settler group called 'Pioneers of Bashan' is conducting incursions into southern Syria to establish Jewish settlements, citing biblical claims. The Israeli military has intercepted these groups, which aim to create a buffer zone and humanitarian corridor in areas including Mount Hermon, Quneitra, Daraa, and Sweida. The group's actions align with the far-right government's support for settlement expansion.

Israeli settler activists organized by Halutzei HaBashan gathered at the Golan Heights-Syria border, with some crossing into Syrian territory near Majdal Shams. The Israeli military apprehended the settlers and returned them to Israel.

Israeli settler group Halutzei HaBashan advocates for expanding Jewish settlements into southern Syria beyond the 1974 ceasefire line, crossing into Syrian territory in May 2026 and demanding legal settlement authorization. The movement aligns with the 'Greater Israel' project, which envisions a Jewish state from the Nile to the Euphrates, viewing Syria as part of ancestral Jewish homeland.

Israeli settlers, led by the group Halutzei HaBashan, are attempting to establish settlements in southern Syria, claiming the area as part of the historic 'Land of Israel.' These incursions, including the declaration of Neveh HaBashan and occupation of Syrian villages, have occurred amid Israel's expanded military presence in the Golan Heights and a lack of legal consequences for the settlers.

Israel has established fortified military bases in southern Lebanon and Syria since late 2024, with satellite imagery revealing extensive construction efforts. Despite a 2024 ceasefire agreement requiring withdrawal, Israel has not vacated five occupied positions in Lebanon, which overlook depopulated areas. Lebanese and Syrian military sources, along with Hezbollah, believe these bases are intended to be permanent.