Israeli Raid in Syria: Civilian Casualties Amid Ongoing Tensions

Damascus, Nov 28 (AP) Israeli forces conducted a raid on a village in southern Syria on Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 people, according to Syrian media and officials. The raid took place as Israeli forces operate on multiple fronts amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza.

The Syrian state news agency SANA reported that Israeli troops entered the village of Beit Jin, aiming to detain local men. When confronted by residents, the Israeli forces opened heavy fire, causing dozens of families to flee the area.

On Friday, Israel stated that the operation was based on intelligence indicating the presence of suspects from Jamaa Islamiya, or Islamic Group, in Beit Jin who were planning attacks on Israeli civilians. During the operation, militants fired upon Israeli troops, injuring several soldiers who were subsequently evacuated to a hospital. The Israeli military responded with ground fire and aerial support, claiming to have successfully apprehended all targets and killed several militants.

Since the downfall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad in December 2024, led by Islamist insurgents, Israel has been wary of the new authorities in Syria. Israeli forces have captured a buffer zone in southern Syria, initially established under the 1974 disengagement agreement and once patrolled by the UN. Israel has launched numerous airstrikes on Syrian military sites and seeks a demilitarized zone south of Damascus.

Despite having no diplomatic relations, Israel and Syria are discussing a potential security agreement to de-escalate tensions. However, Syrian officials have condemned Israeli incursions, labeling them violations of Syria's sovereignty, though they have not yet commented on Friday's raid.

Walid Okasha, a local official in Beit Jin, informed The Associated Press that the victims were civilians, noting that one had just celebrated his wedding the previous day. “The situation is miserable,” Okasha stated.

In a previous raid on Beit Jin in June, Israeli forces detained several individuals they accused of being Hamas members — a claim disputed by residents — and killed a man whose family said he had schizophrenia.

Regional conflicts have sparked fears that the unrest could affect the tenuous truce in Gaza. The casualties in Syria occurred after a series of Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday. Israel asserts that these strikes are aimed at preventing Hezbollah from rearming following a destructive war that ended with a ceasefire last year.

According to the United Nations, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have resulted in the deaths of at least 127 civilians, including children, since the ceasefire a year ago. Tensions heightened earlier this week when Israel conducted a rare strike in Beirut, killing a senior Hezbollah official accused of being the group's chief of staff.

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