Israeli Raid in Southern Syria Leaves At Least Five Dead, Syrian Media Says

Syrian state media reported on Friday that at least five people were killed in an Israeli raid in southern Syria, while the Israeli military said six of its soldiers were wounded during clashes that broke out as they moved to detain members of a militant group.

According to the Israeli army, militants opened fire on its forces during an overnight operation in the Beit Jinn area of southern Syria to arrest individuals linked to a group it identified as the “Jamaa Islamiya terrorist organization.”

In its statement, the Israeli military said its troops “returned fire and received aerial support,” adding that three of the wounded soldiers were in serious condition.

Syria’s state news agency SANA, citing initial information, reported that five people were killed, including two children. Another official Syrian outlet, Ikhbariya, said the death toll was 10.

The Israeli military said the suspects had “intensified terror attacks against Israeli civilians,” but did not provide additional details. It declined further comment when asked for more information.

According to the military, the suspects were detained and several militants were killed. The operation has now concluded.

Following a Sunni Islamist insurgency that ousted President Bashar al-Assad from the area a year ago, Israel deployed troops and equipment beyond the 1974 buffer zone into southern Syria, including the strategically important Mount Hermon overlook.

Israel has carried out repeated incursions into southern Syrian villages, saying its operations target militant activity and aim to keep the border region secure.