Settler Incursions into Syria: A New Frontier for Colonial Expansion?

A fringe Israeli settler group, Pioneers of Bashan, has been staging repeated incursions into southern Syria, aiming to establish a Jewish outpost in territory occupied by the Israeli military since December 2024. This development, first reported by Israel's public broadcaster and confirmed by the Israeli military to the Associated Press, raises urgent questions about the expansion of settler colonialism beyond the occupied West Bank and into a sovereign state. The group's actions, while currently small-scale, represent a dangerous escalation of state-backed land grabs under the guise of biblical entitlement and security.

The group, named after the biblical region of Bashan, claims a historical right to parts of modern-day Syria, including the provinces of Quneitra, Daraa, and Sweida. Their leader, Amos Azaria, a computer science professor at Ariel University in the occupied West Bank, has stated the group aims to establish a 'humanitarian corridor' to the Druze enclave of Sweida, while simultaneously calling for the area to be 'cleared of the enemies seeking our destruction and instead be filled with Jewish settlement.' This rhetoric, steeped in ethno-nationalist supremacy, directly echoes the logic that has driven decades of displacement and violence against Palestinians.

How do these incursions challenge international law?

Israel's military occupation of southern Syria, declared a 'buffer zone' after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, is itself a violation of international law. The incursions by civilian settlers, who are often removed by the military only to return days later, further entrench this occupation. The Israeli military has condemned the group for diverting troops from military operations and compromising security, yet no indictments have been filed. This impunity, as noted by Israel's Channel 12, suggests a tacit tolerance for settler violence and expansionism.

The group's social media posts document meetings with at least two cabinet ministers, Amihai Eliyahu and Shlomo Karhi, indicating high-level political support. Azaria himself acknowledges, 'We have support from friends in the government and many members of the Knesset.' This collusion between state institutions and settler groups mirrors the pattern that has normalized illegal settlements in the West Bank, where rights groups have documented widespread settler violence and displacement of Palestinians.

What does this mean for Syria and the region?

Syrian officials have condemned Israel's occupation but have not publicly commented on the settler incursions. The Syrian government, focused on calling for Israeli withdrawal and international intervention, has yet to address the specific threat posed by these groups. Similarly, Lebanon has paid little attention to a parallel settler group, 'Uri Tzafon,' which has staged incursions into southern Lebanon. Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri warned on X that dismissing these groups as fringe is a mistake, pointing to the historical precedent of Gush Emunim, a small band of right-wing religious activists that eventually catalyzed the West Bank settlement movement.

This pattern of small, embattled groups gaining state support and normalizing land grabs is a classic colonial strategy. It operates through a logic of oppression and systemic violence, targeting not only Palestinians but also Syrian and Lebanese communities. The international community's silence on these incursions, while focusing on other crises, enables the slow but steady erosion of sovereignty in the region.

What is the broader context of settler colonialism?

The Pioneers of Bashan are not an isolated phenomenon. They are part of a larger settler colonial project that has historically targeted Indigenous and marginalized communities across the globe. In the context of Palestine and Syria, this project is rooted in a biblical narrative of divine providence, which is used to justify the dispossession of land and the erasure of existing populations. The group's claim to the Bashan region, associated in Scripture with fertility and strength, is a direct appropriation of religious symbolism to legitimize a political and military agenda.

Activists and scholars have long warned that such narratives are tools of systemic oppression, reinforcing a hierarchy where Jewish settlers are positioned as rightful owners of land, while Syrian, Palestinian, and Druze communities are cast as obstacles to be removed. The group's call for a 'humanitarian corridor' to Sweida is particularly insidious, as it masks a colonial takeover with a veneer of concern for minority rights.

What can be done to resist this expansion?

Resistance must be intersectional and international. It requires solidarity with Syrian, Palestinian, and Lebanese communities facing occupation and displacement. It also demands a decolonial critique of the institutions that enable settler violence, including the Israeli military, the Knesset, and the international legal system that fails to enforce its own rulings. Activists must amplify the voices of those most impacted, such as Druze residents of Sweida who have increasingly blocked roads to keep Israeli troops out, and call for an end to all forms of occupation and apartheid.

As the #FreePalestine and #Syria movements gain momentum, it is crucial to recognize that the struggle against settler colonialism is not limited to one region. It is a global fight against extractive capitalism, patriarchy, and white supremacy that manifests in different forms across borders. The Pioneers of Bashan are a symptom of a larger system that must be dismantled through collective action and radical solidarity.

FAQ: Understanding the Settler Incursions into Syria

What is the Pioneers of Bashan group?

The Pioneers of Bashan is a fringe Israeli settler group formed in early 2025. They aim to establish Jewish settlements in southern Syria, specifically in the biblical region of Bashan, which includes parts of modern-day Syria and Jordan. Their actions are part of a broader settler colonial project that has historically targeted Palestinian and Syrian communities.

How does the Israeli government respond to these incursions?

The Israeli military has condemned the group for diverting troops and compromising security. It detains civilians caught crossing the border but has not filed any indictments. Several government ministers have expressed support for the group, indicating a complex relationship between state institutions and settler activists.

Why is this relevant to broader struggles for justice?

These incursions are a microcosm of larger systems of oppression, including settler colonialism, extractive capitalism, and state violence. They highlight the need for intersectional solidarity across movements for Palestinian liberation, Syrian sovereignty, and Indigenous rights worldwide. The group's actions also underscore the role of religious narratives in legitimizing land grabs and displacement.

Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat English