At least 10 people have been killed in an Israeli raid on a village in southern Syria overnight, state media reported, marking one of the deadliest incidents of its kind in months. Reports indicate that children were among the casualties.
The Sana news agency stated that residents of Beit Jinn confronted Israeli troops, prompting a firefight. Israel also conducted air strikes during the operation.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that the troops entered the village, located near the occupied Golan Heights, to detain members of the Jaama Islamiya militant group, which it accused of planning terror attacks against Israeli civilians. In the ensuing clashes, six Israeli soldiers were reported injured, while three individuals were arrested before the troops withdrew.
The IDF reported that armed militants opened fire on its soldiers, who then returned fire. Sana also mentioned that the village came under shelling, with IDF footage displaying two air strikes — one targeting a group and the other hitting a building.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a building collapsed during the raid. The IDF later confirmed that all suspects were apprehended, and several militants were killed.
Local hospital officials reported receiving multiple bodies, including five from a single family, alongside dozens of injured individuals. Israel routinely conducts incursions into Syrian territories, citing the need to address the presence of armed groups.
Following the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad nearly a year ago, Israel has expanded its military presence into southern Syria to counter perceived threats from anti-Israel factions.
Israel maintains a firm stance against the deployment of the Syrian army in the area, which it views as a security threat. Efforts led by the U.S. to facilitate a security agreement between Israel and Syria have yet to yield success.
