Israeli forces push deeper into southern Syria Israeli forces have expanded their occupation in Syria’s southern Deraa province, setting up new checkpoints and moving military vehicles deeper into the area, Syria’s state news agency SANA reports. SANA said Israeli troops established a second checkpoint near the village of Sreyeh Jamlah in Deraa’s western countryside, about 200 metres from another checkpoint installed a day earlier. At least five Israeli military vehicles also advanced into the village of Abidin, where troops set up two checkpoints and searched people passing through the area.