Syria condemns Israeli raid on Damascus area as 'war crime'
Syria has denounced an Israeli military raid on the town of Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside as a "criminal assault" and "full-fledged war crime." The incursion and subsequent airstrikes resulted in multiple civilian casualties, including women and children, according to Syrian officials.
Syria has formally condemned an Israeli military operation in the Damascus countryside, characterizing Friday's raid on the town of Beit Jinn as a "criminal assault" that constitutes a war crime. In an official statement, the Syrian Foreign Ministry accused Israeli forces of crossing into Syrian territory, confronting local residents, and attacking civilians and property before launching what it described as "deliberate and brutal" airstrikes following the ground incursion.
Civilian Casualties and Israeli Account
According to Syrian media reports, the Israeli attack on Beit Jinn and the connecting road to Mazraat Beit Jinn resulted in at least 13 fatalities, including women and children, with numerous others wounded. The Israeli military acknowledged the operation, stating that six of its soldiers were injured during the mission, three of them critically. Israeli authorities claimed the raid targeted members of "Jaama Islamiya" who they alleged had orchestrated attacks against Israeli civilians from the area.
Syria's Warning and Broader Context
The Syrian government statement held Israel "fully responsible" for the raid and its consequences, warning that continued "criminal aggression" threatens regional stability and represents a systematic effort to destabilize the area. This incident occurs within the context of significantly intensified Israeli military activity in southern Syria, with government data indicating over 1,000 airstrikes and more than 400 cross-border raids since December 2024.
Advertisement
Expanded Israeli Military Presence
The raid follows Israel's expansion of its occupation in the Syrian Golan Heights after recent political changes in Syria, including the seizure of the demilitarized buffer zone established under the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. Israeli forces have conducted 47 raids in southern Syria during November alone, reflecting a pattern of escalating military engagement across the border region that Syria characterizes as violations of international law.
Comments you share on our site are a valuable resource for other users. Please be respectful of different opinions and other users. Avoid using rude, aggressive, derogatory, or discriminatory language.