Israeli forces conducted a raid in a village in southern Syria, resulting in a confrontation with residents that led to the death of at least 13 individuals, according to Syrian officials. The attack was labeled a “horrific massacre” by Syria’s Foreign Ministry, highlighting that women and children were among the casualties. Israeli forces entered the village of Beit Jin with the aim of arresting local men suspected of belonging to the Jamaa Islamiya militant group, alleging plans for IED and rocket attacks into Israel. In response to residents’ resistance, Israeli forces engaged in heavy gunfire, leading to the death of several militants and the apprehension of suspects, as claimed by Israel.
Local sources in the village reported that those killed were civilians, including a family with children, a newlywed, and other individuals. The situation was described as dire by a village official, expressing concern over the use of drones, helicopters, and heavy machine guns by Israeli troops during the operation. Previous Israeli raids in Beit Jin and other areas in southern Syria have faced armed resistance from local residents, resulting in casualties on both sides.
Since the downfall of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, Israeli forces have maintained control over a portion of southern Syria, previously designated as a UN-patrolled buffer zone. Military operations and raids by Israeli troops have been recurrent in villages within and outside the zone, targeting suspected militants. Tensions have escalated in recent months, with clashes between Israeli forces and local residents resulting in casualties.
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and ongoing conflicts in the region have raised concerns about potential spillover effects on the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. The United Nations has criticized Israel for civilian casualties in Lebanon, and international calls for action to address the escalating situation in Syria have been made. Efforts to negotiate a security deal between Syrian and Israeli officials have stalled, posing challenges to stability in the border region.