An Israeli military incursion to track down suspected terrorists in southern Syria killed 10 people and left five Israeli troops injured Friday morning, according to Syrian state media.
The incident is the latest flare-up in violence in the Syrian territory south of Damascus after Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Syrian military targets in July to protect members of the Druze minority from attacks by government forces and Bedouin militia.
Israeli forces had reportedly shelled the village of Beit Jinn at about 3:40 a.m. before conducting a raid. During the operation, Israeli troops came under fire from militants from the Sunni Islamist group Jaama Islamiya, according to the Israeli military.
Israel said it eliminated numerous terrorists, but five soldiers were injured in the process. Syrian state media organization SANA said the operation killed at least 10 people, including two children, and wounded dozens.
Israel has asserted that Islamic militants have used the area around Beit Jinn to plan further attacks on Israel and to build and plant improvised explosive devices.
Syrian officials also reported that the Israeli soldiers arrested two individuals but did not give further information on their identities.
The incursion is in line with similar operations performed by the Israeli military in southern Syria since the fall of former President Bashar Assad in December 2024. The Israeli army has occupied much of southern Syria since the fall of the Assad government and has used the area as a staging ground.
Israel has conducted more than 1,000 targeted military strikes within Syria to disarm Damascus’ defensive capabilities or to apprehend alleged extremists. Many in Israel are skeptical of Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria’s new president, who was previously a commander of an al-Qaeda-affiliated organization.
Mr. al-Sharaa has repeatedly insisted that Syria does not pose a threat to Israel and that his government wants only peace with Jerusalem. Syrian diplomats are currently in dialogue with Israeli officials in crafting a new disengagement treaty, which could provide a framework for a more detailed peace agreement and restore the 1974 borders.
