Casualties reported as Israel launches overnight Syria‘s Beit Jinn operation
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Israeli forces carried out on Friday at dawn a security operation inside the town of Beit Jinn, located on the southern slopes of Mount Hermon in western Damascus countryside, resulting in casualties among both Israeli soldiers and Syrian civilians, according to official statements and local reports.
The Israeli army announced that the operation targeted individuals described as members of the “Islamic Group.” In a statement, Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army’s spokesperson for Arabic media, said the mission was based on “intelligence information collected in recent weeks,” noting that units from the 55th Reserve Brigade of the 210th Division led the raid to detain suspects allegedly involved in planning attacks inside Israel.
Adraee said troops came under fire as they withdrew, resulting in six injuries among Israeli personnel. He stated that two officers and one reservist were critically wounded, while the remaining soldiers sustained moderate to minor injuries. Helicopters provided fire support before evacuating the injured to Israeli hospitals.
He added that all targeted individuals were arrested and that “a number of armed men were eliminated,” emphasizing that Israeli forces would maintain their deployment in the area to address what Israel describes as security threats along its northern frontier.
Israeli media reported additional details, stating the operation began around 3 a.m. and focused on arresting two brothers accused of previously planting explosive devices and launching a “high-altitude” projectile. The suspects were reportedly detained without resistance before one of the military vehicles was ambushed, causing the six Israeli casualties.
In parallel, Syrian state media reported a rising civilian death toll from Israeli shelling on Beit Jinn and nearby Beit Jinn Farm, stating that ten people were killed, including women and children, while several civilians remained trapped under rubble. Syria’s state-run al-Ikhbariya channel said dozens of families fled the area toward safer locations.
The Syrian Civil Defense said in a statement that its teams were unable to enter the town in the early morning due to continued targeting of the main access routes by Israeli forces, which hindered rescue operations and raised concerns about the safety of civilians in affected neighborhoods.
The operation comes amid growing tension along the Syrian–Israeli border. Earlier this week, Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant reportedly stated in a closed session that Israel “is not on a path of peace with Syria,” warning of escalating security risks along the northern border and the occupied Golan Heights.