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3. Israeli Forces Conduct Operation in Southern Syria, 10 Killed

Heavy clashes broke out overnight from Thursday to Friday in southern Syria after Israeli soldiers operating in the Beit Jinn area came under fire from armed residents, according to local and military sources. At least one Syrian was killed, and several others wounded during the initial exchanges, which began at around 3:15 a.m. local time and continued for several minutes.

Located roughly ten kilometers from the Israeli border and about 40 kilometers southwest of Damascus, the village of Beit Jinn has in recent months become, according to Israeli media, a hub for operations by terrorist groups targeting Israel. Syrian witnesses said the gunfire erupted after Israeli forces attempted to detain a local resident. The situation quickly escalated, leading to exchanges of small-arms fire, artillery shells, and, according to the same accounts, an Israeli helicopter strike on the outskirts of the village.

Syria TV reported that nine people were killed in Israeli airstrikes conducted alongside the raid, with several civilians among the wounded. The outlet also said residents fled Beit Jinn toward nearby villages. State television later revised the toll to ten dead, including “women and children,” adding that some victims remained trapped under the rubble.

Israeli army: Raid Targeted Jamaa Islamiya Members

The Israeli military confirmed that it carried out an operation in the village as part of a raid targeting members of the Jamaa Islamiya organization, suspected of planning attacks on Israeli civilians. According to the army, reservists from the 55th Paratroopers Brigade, under the 210th Division, entered a house to arrest two suspects.

As the soldiers exited with the detainees, they came under heavy fire at close range. The Times of Israel reported that the two arrested men were brothers who had previously fired rockets toward Israel and that a third suspect was also detained during the operation.

Israeli Casualties and Aerial Support

The army said six Israeli soldiers were wounded during the clash, three of them seriously. Troops returned fire, while Israeli Air Force helicopters and drones carried out supporting strikes. The Times of Israel also noted that a Humvee targeted by gunmen had to be abandoned inside the village before being destroyed in an Israeli airstrike.

Despite the casualties, the army described the raid as a success, stating that three suspects had been arrested and several gunmen killed.

Regional Context

The operation came less than 24 hours after a group of Israelis crossed illegally into Syrian territory in the Golan and Mount Hermon area, an act the army condemned as “grave and criminal.”

According to AFP, the clashes unfold against a backdrop of persistent tension in southern Syria, marked by a series of Israeli operations launched since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024 and the arrival of a new government in Damascus. The agency also noted that recent diplomatic contacts involving Paris and Washington had raised the prospect of a possible security agreement between Israel and Syria.