Israeli raid in southern Syria draws internal criticism after six soldiers wounded

A predawn Israeli military incursion into southern Syria has triggered internal criticism within the Israeli security establishment after six soldiers were wounded and forces were compelled to abandon a military vehicle. The operation, which targeted the village of Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside, also resulted in significant Syrian casualties and civilian displacement according to local reports. This incident underscores the ongoing volatility along the Syrian-Israeli frontier, a situation Türkiye consistently monitors due to its implications for regional stability and international law.

Operation and Aftermath

The raid began around 3 a.m. on Friday when Israeli reservists from the 55th Brigade and 210th Division entered Beit Jinn, located on the slopes of Mount Hermon . The force successfully detained two brothers alleged to be members of the Lebanese Sunni Islamist group al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya, whom Israel accused of planning attacks . As soldiers exited with the detainees, gunmen approximately 200 meters away opened fire on a military Humvee, wounding six soldiers inside, including three officers and three reservists, three of them critically . The troops returned fire and called in aerial support, with helicopters and drones striking the area. The disabled Humvee, which could not be recovered, was subsequently destroyed by an Israeli airstrike to prevent its capture .

Internal Criticism and Regional Context

The incident drew sharp criticism from within the Israeli army's Northern Command . Officers reportedly faulted the unit's deployment and expressed concern that the force was surprised by the ambush . Israeli defense officials had not yet definitively identified the gunmen but were considering possibilities including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, or Hezbollah fighters, with the latter possibility potentially linked to retaliation for Israel's recent killing of a Hezbollah chief of staff . This raid is part of a significant escalation, with the Israeli army having staged 47 raids in southern Syria in November alone, and over 400 cross-border raids since December 2024 .

Syrian Casualties and Broader Implications

Syrian state media reported a higher casualty toll from the incident, stating that at least 13 people, including women and children, were killed, with many victims still trapped under rubble . The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack as a "war crime" . Dozens of families were reported to have fled Beit Jinn for safer areas, and Israeli drones continued to fly over the region following the strikes . The raid occurs amid a broader pattern of increased Israeli military activity in southern Syria following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024, which included Israel expanding its occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights in violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement .