Israel Publishes Images of Military Operations in Southern Syria
By Kardo Roj
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The Israeli military on Saturday released images of recent defensive operations conducted inside southern Syria, citing security concerns posed to residents in the occupied Golan Heights region.
The images, made public through an official statement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), reportedly depict members of the IDF’s elite Paratroopers Brigade carrying out raids on former Syrian military positions over the past week. According to the statement, the operations are part of broader efforts by the 210th Division to “neutralize threats” emanating from Syrian territory.
“The Paratroopers Brigade continues its defensive mission in Syria to eliminate threats directed at the State of Israel, particularly against residents of the Golan Heights,” the IDF said.
The IDF stated that a targeted air raid was carried out on a former Syrian regime military post that was allegedly being reactivated. The site reportedly contained disabled tanks, armored personnel carriers, and non-operational artillery, which were dismantled during the operation. Israeli forces also seized a cache of weapons, including mortar shells and dozens of rockets.
While Israel did not specify which groups were operating in the targeted areas, security analysts have suggested the region near the Golan Heights has seen growing activity from Iran-linked militias and other non-state actors. However, the Israeli statement did not reference any specific affiliations.
On Thursday, prior to the release of the images, the IDF confirmed that units from the 474th Brigade conducted another raid in the town of Tseel in southern Syria. That operation reportedly resulted in the confiscation of additional weapons and the destruction of logistical infrastructure believed to support militant activities.
The latest Israeli actions come amid heightened regional tensions following a series of cross-border incidents and increased Israeli airstrikes across Syria. Although Damascus has condemned these operations as violations of sovereignty, Israel maintains that its actions are preemptive measures against hostile actors attempting to entrench near its borders.
Southern Syria, particularly the Daraa and Quneitra governorates, has remained a complex and fragile zone since the partial withdrawal of opposition forces in 2018. While the Syrian government nominally reclaimed control, a security vacuum has persisted, often exploited by various armed groups with differing allegiances.
For its part, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which operate in northeast Syria under the governance of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), remain distant from these developments geographically. However, broader instability across the country—especially in areas adjacent to Israeli-held territory—could ripple across borders, affecting the fragile security architecture nationwide.
While no casualties were reported in the most recent raids, Syrian state media has previously accused Israel of targeting Syrian army installations and civilian infrastructure—claims that remain difficult to independently verify due to limited media access in those zones.
As the situation in southern Syria develops, attention will likely focus on whether Israeli operations escalate further and how regional actors respond to growing tension along the Golan frontier.