Six Israeli soldiers were wounded, three seriously, on 28/11 during a raid on Beit Jinn village in Southern Syria. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated the operation targeted members of the Sunni Islamist group Jama'a Islamiya, accused of launching rockets into Israel from Lebanon amid the Gaza Strip conflict. However, the raid was met with fierce resistance from villagers, leading to violent clashes.

The Israeli military described the operation as part of regular activities Tel Aviv has conducted in the area in recent months.

Syrian state news agency SANA reported that Israeli forces shelled Beit Jinn village before ground troops entered. The villagers' resistance led to "violent clashes", according to SANA.

The IDF reported that Israeli soldiers returned fire with air support, killing 13 villagers and wounding dozens. Images released showed an Israeli military Humvee armored vehicle struck by fire and completely destroyed during the battle in Beit Jinn village.

An Israeli military Humvee destroyed in Beit Jinn village on 28/11. *Photo: AFP*

IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee declared that Israel would not allow "terrorist elements to take root" near its border. He added that three individuals suspected of "involvement in terrorist plots" were arrested. The IDF accused them of planting improvised explosive devices and planning future attacks on Israel, including rocket launches.

This incident marks one of Israel's most costly raids in Syria since former President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown late last year.

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Israel's raid resulted in the deaths of over 10 civilians, including women and children, as well as property damage and forced evacuations. The ministry accused Israel of committing "war crimes" and warned of threats to regional security and stability.

Walid Akasha, a local official in Beit Jinn, denied reports of terrorist forces being present in the village. "We are ordinary people, farmers, living peacefully. We have the legitimate right to self-defense and did not attack them first. They entered our land", the official stated.

Akasha also mentioned that 7 people were taken from the village by Israeli soldiers during a raid in June and remain missing. Israel had previously stated it arrested members of the Hamas armed group and brought them back for interrogation, while the Syrian Ministry of Interior declared all of them were civilians.

Location of Beit Jinn. *Graphic: BBC*

Najat Rochdi, deputy special envoy for the United Nations in Syria, condemned Israel's 28/11 raid as a "serious and unacceptable violation of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, further destabilizing an already fragile regional situation".

Israel frequently conducted airstrikes in Syria under former President Assad and has intensified military operations since his overthrow. These operations are justified by Israel as necessary to prevent armed groups from approaching its border.

Israeli and Syrian officials held multiple dialogues, mediated by the United States, to reach a security agreement for border stability. However, negotiation efforts have been frozen since September. Tel Aviv expresses deep skepticism towards the new government in Damascus and seeks the demilitarization of Southern Syria, while Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa declared that Syria poses no threat to any country.

Pham Giang (According to Reuters)