DARAA, Syria, March 27 (Xinhua) -- For several days this week, hundreds of residents in Syria's southern Daraa province have fled their homes, seeking refuge in nearby towns, as Israeli military operations escalated in the region.

The latest offensive, centered on the village of Kouya in the Yarmouk Basin, has deepened the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn area. Families, uncertain of when, or if, they will return, have sought shelter in overcrowded schools, olive groves, and the homes of relatives.

The violence erupted earlier this week when Israeli forces moved to advance into Kouya, prompting a fierce response from local fighters. The confrontation quickly escalated into intense clashes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, with Israeli artillery fire killing at least seven people and wounding several others.

As shelling rained down, panic spread through the village. Families fled in haste, many heading to the nearby town of Al-Shajara, carrying little beyond what they could manage. The journey was fraught with danger, as bombardment continued and drones loomed overhead.

"We entered the center of Kouya in the morning and found bodies in the streets," said Ahmad Abd Raboh, a resident who managed to escape. "People were running, but there were no medical crews to help the wounded."

Abd Raboh accused Israeli forces of forcibly expelling civilians and called for international intervention.

For those displaced, the trauma is profound. Umm Mahmoud, an elderly woman from Kouya, recalled the chaos: "I saw several bodies, some with their bread still in their hands."

The influx of refugees has overwhelmed Al-Shajara's already strained resources. Local officials condemned the Israeli strikes as a violation of Syrian sovereignty and international law. Syria's interim authorities denounced the operation as a "flagrant aggression" and urged global powers to act, warning that continued attacks would only deepen instability in the region.

The Israeli military defended its actions, saying the strikes targeted militants responsible for attacks on Israeli positions. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the operation was carried out in self-defense to neutralize an imminent threat.

The border regions near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights have seen a sharp rise in hostilities this month. Since early March, multiple provinces have come under artillery fire, and Israeli incursions into Syrian towns and villages have further fueled tensions. Enditem

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