Channel 13 Hebrew quoted informed sources as saying that “Israel is considering a response against the Syrian government if it turns out that elements of the Syrian General Security have a role in the clash that occurred at dawn.”
The channel explained that “the trend in Israel after the armed clash in Syria is towards reducing arrest operations and relying on assassination from the air,” adding that “the ambush was not prepared in advance, but came as a reaction to the raid.”
For its part, the Israeli army radio stated, based on intelligence estimates, that “in Beit Jinn, Syria, there is a cell of about 15 activists linked to Hamas and the Islamic Group, and they are planning to carry out operations against Israel.”
The Hebrew sources warned that “the more attempts to recruit Syrians continue, the greater the likelihood of successful operations against the Israeli army.”
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted its sources as saying that “a number of perpetrators of attacks in Syria are working for the General Intelligence of the current regime,” in a direct accusation to the Syrian security services of involvement in operations targeting Israeli targets.
This information, according to Israeli media, shows features of a possible change in the security strategy towards Syria, with increased reliance on air strikes to reduce risks to ground forces and increase effectiveness in confronting growing threats.
On the ground, at least 13 people were killed and 24 others were injured by Israeli forces’ fire and raids on the town of Beit Jinn in the southern Damascus countryside in Syria, after a clash broke out with the Israeli army, which announced the injury of 6 of its soldiers, including officers, during the operation that it said targeted elements of the “Islamic Group.”
The Israeli army said in a statement that “forces of the 55th Reserve Brigade, operating under the command of Division 210, went out during the night to carry out an operation to arrest wanted persons from the Islamic Group organization, based on intelligence gathered over the past weeks.”
The army claimed that “the suspects worked in the village of Beit Jinn and participated in advancing plans against Israeli citizens.” It added that “armed elements opened fire towards the army forces, and the forces responded by opening fire, in conjunction with providing aerial fire support to the forces in the area.”
The statement indicated that “as a result, two combat officers and a reserve fighter were seriously injured, and a reserve fighter was moderately injured, while an officer and a reserve fighter were slightly injured, and the injured were transferred to the hospital.” Meanwhile, the Israeli army radio reported that the number of wounded in the ranks of the army is 6, while other Israeli sources spoke of larger numbers.
The Israeli army confirmed that “the operation was completed, all the wanted persons were arrested, and a number of elements were eliminated,” adding that its forces “will continue to work against any threat targeting Israel and its citizens.”
These developments come amid escalating tension on the Syrian-Israeli front in recent months, as Israel has intensified its air operations inside Syrian territory, while Tel Aviv accuses factions linked to Iran and Palestinian movements of exploiting Syrian territory as a base for launching cross-border operations. The events coincide with increasing Israeli warnings about the expansion of the activity of armed groups in southern Syria, which is driving a comprehensive review of response mechanisms and field work.
