Doha, Riyadh, and Baghdad have denounced Israel's recent land grab in Syria near the occupied Golan Heights, with Israeli forces advancing into the buffer zone following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad's government.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry labelled the incursion a "dangerous development" and a violation of Syria’s sovereignty and international law. The statement added that Israel's actions could exacerbate violence and tension in the region.

Saudi Arabia echoed these sentiments, calling the move a continuation of Israel’s disregard for international rules and an impediment to Syria's recovery. Iraq similarly criticised the incursion as a "grave violation" and urged the United Nations Security Council to take decisive action.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the occupation of the buffer zone, calling the Golan Heights Israel’s territory "for eternity." The recent incursion reportedly follows intensified Israeli air strikes across Syria targeting military assets in key locations, including Damascus, Homs, and Latakia.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claims Israel has conducted over 100 strikes in Syria since Sunday, aiming to dismantle military capabilities linked to the former regime. However, the UN has deemed Israel's actions a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement.

Despite condemnation from Arab nations and the UN, Israel maintains its measures are "limited and temporary," citing security threats near the border.

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Kochi (Kerala) (PTI): Police on Sunday arrested three directors of a firm accused of cheating hundreds of investors of over Rs 100 crore through a fake investment scheme linked to agricultural tourism here, officials said.

The accused were identified as Muraleedharan, Ashik Murali and Akhil Murali, all natives of Thrissur.

The arrests were made by the Kalamassery police in connection with a fraud involving ATCOS (Agri Tourism Cooperative Society), a firm headquartered at Pathadipalam here.

Police said the company had promised high returns by collecting investments from the public in the agricultural tourism sector, but allegedly cheated hundreds of people and fled with the money.

ATCOS was registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act and operated 13 branches across various districts in Kerala, besides a branch in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, officials said.

When investors failed to receive their promised returns or the invested amount, complaints were filed with the police.

Officials said around 54 cases have been registered against the firm in 32 police stations across the state, including 29 cases at the Kalamassery police station alone.

Following instructions from Kochi City Police Commissioner K S Mahesh Kumar, a special investigation team was formed under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Shehensha and Thrikkakara ACP Manoj Kumar.

The team traced the accused to an apartment in Amala Nagar in Thrissur, where they had been hiding after secretly renting the flat, officials said.

The bank accounts of the accused have been frozen, and steps have been initiated to trace their assets, officials said.

Police also conducted a raid at the company’s office at Pathadipalam and seized several documents related to the case.

The accused were produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Kalamassery, which remanded them to judicial custody and sent them to Kakkanad jail.

Police said they would seek the custody of the accused for further interrogation as the investigation continues.