Israeli forces killed 13 people during a raid in southern Syria on Friday, triggering heavy clashes with residents and leaving six Israeli soldiers wounded, Syrian officials said.
Before dawn, Israeli troops entered the village of Beit Jinn, about 50 kilometers southwest of Damascus. Local reports said soldiers stormed several homes and detained three people. Helicopters, artillery, and later fighter jets supported the operation.
Clashes Break Out
Residents exchanged fire with the Israeli troops as the raid unfolded. Syrian media said the forces became briefly “encircled,” prompting Israeli jets to strike targets around the village.
Health officials said 13 Syrians, including children, were killed and at least 25 others were injured. The Israeli military confirmed that six of its soldiers were wounded, three of them seriously. Haaretz reported that two officers were among those in critical condition.
An Israeli Humvee was also struck during the clashes and was later destroyed by an Israeli airstrike.
Israel Cites Counterterrorism Operation
The Israeli military said the raid targeted members of Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya, the Lebanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Syrian authorities countered that the assault amounted to a “massacre” of civilians and a violation of Syrian sovereignty.
Pattern of Cross-Border Operations
Israel has carried out frequent cross-border raids in southern Syria and the Damascus countryside over the past year. These operations have escalated since rebel advances weakened the remnants of Bashar al-Assad’s former regime.
