Syrians Protest Israeli Incursions Near the Occupied Golan Heights, Accusing Troops of Bulldozing Olive Groves

Syrians are protesting Israel's occupation of parts of the country's south, near the occupied Golan Heights. The protests took place in areas close to the Golan, where anger among local residents over Israeli troop activity has been growing.

Protesters accuse Israeli troops of bulldozing olive groves in the area. Olives are a mainstay of livelihoods in this region, so the destruction of groves has deepened local anger.

Israeli forces have also set up checkpoints in the area, according to the protesters. Residents say those checkpoints are disrupting their everyday movement.

Residents have also been detained, the protesters allege, and they demanded an end to the detentions and the incursions.

Al Jazeera's Heidi Pett reported from the protests, capturing the anger and the demands of the Syrians taking part.

The Golan Heights area has long been a centre of dispute and tension over Israeli occupation. Israel's occupation of parts of Syria's south is cited in the report as the core cause of these protests.

According to local accounts, the bulldozing of groves, the checkpoints and the detentions together have built up simmering tension in the area, which has now spilled out into protest.

The protesters demanded that Israeli troops withdraw from their land. International media attention is now turning to the situation in this area near the occupied Golan Heights.

The report carried no response from the Israeli authorities to the protests or the allegations. How the situation develops will depend on the Israeli forces' next steps on the ground and on the local response.