Israeli forces launch raids, detain suspects in southern Syria
By Malin Muhammad
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The Israeli army announced on Thursday that its forces detained several suspects and confiscated over 300 weapons during raids on positions in southern Syria.
In an early morning operation, Israeli forces carried out a ground incursion in the western countryside of Daraa, resulting in the arrest of three individuals. The military said the operation targeted sites once used by units affiliated with the former Syrian government.
Avichay Adraee, spokesperson for the Israeli army, stated in a post on Facebook that “the Mountain Brigade (810), under the command of the 210th Division, completed yesterday a raid on a number of commando sites affiliated with the former Syrian regime on the slopes of Mount Hermon in southern Syria.”
He added that the forces “arrested several suspects who were involved in smuggling and trading weapons from Syria to Lebanon,” noting that “more than 300 combat items were seized during the raids.”
According to the army statement, the confiscated items included light weapons and military equipment allegedly used in cross-border smuggling networks. No further details were provided about the identity of the detainees or the nature of the seized weapons.
The southern governorate of Daraa has long been a focal point of instability, where armed groups, remnants of former opposition factions, and pro-government elements remain active. The region’s porous borders have also made it a hub for arms smuggling toward Lebanon.
Israeli forces have repeatedly carried out raids, airstrikes, and targeted operations in Syria over the past decade, saying they aim to prevent weapons transfers to Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups. Thursday’s announcement marks one of the largest reported seizures of arms in recent months.
The Israeli army did not specify where the detainees were taken or whether they would face charges. Syrian state media has not yet commented on the incident.
Military activity in southern Syria continues amid broader regional security concerns, while in northeast Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) maintain counterterrorism operations against Islamic State (ISIS) cells and work with international partners to secure borders and prevent arms trafficking.
The Israeli army said that investigations into the detainees’ connections to smuggling networks are ongoing.