13 Israeli Elite Troops Wounded in Confrontation in Southern Syria
Israeli occupation forces face fierce resistance during overnight incursion into the Damascus countryside, leaving heavy casualties and exposing an escalation in cross-border aggression
Syria, PUREWILAYAH.COM — Thirteen elite Israeli occupation troops were injured on Friday during an overnight raid on the Syrian village of Beit Jinn, located in the Damascus countryside. Israeli media reported that three of the injured troops were in critical condition following armed confrontations with local residents.
According to Israeli outlets, the raid was launched to detain several individuals from Beit Jinn whom Israeli forces claimed were affiliated with the Islamic Group. The operation quickly escalated after locals opened fire, forcing the occupation troops into retreat.
Details of the Confrontation: Paratrooper Brigade Ambushed, Humvee Destroyed
Elite units from the 55th Paratroopers Brigade of the 98th Elite Division entered Beit Jinn — a village situated only a few hundred meters from the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) Zone.
During the attempted detentions, clashes erupted as local residents resisted. Gunfire forced the Israeli forces to withdraw, leaving behind a military Humvee used in the incursion.
Israeli media later confirmed that the Israeli Air Force bombed the abandoned vehicle to prevent its capture.
Among the critically wounded were two officers from the 55th Brigade.
The occupation forces claimed to have detained three individuals, but the confrontations and subsequent Israeli airstrikes left at least 13 Syrians martyred and 25 others injured, according to the Syrian News Channel. Several people reportedly remain trapped under rubble caused by the bombardment.
A Pattern of Ongoing Israeli Aggression in Southern Syria
Syrian authorities have warned that repeated Israeli incursions form part of a persistent pattern of aggression across the country’s southern regions — particularly around buffer zones and areas near the occupied Golan Heights.
These attacks, conducted under the pretext of “counterterrorism” or “security,” continue to violate Syrian sovereignty through:
cross-border ground raids,
use of air and artillery strikes,
detentions and abductions of civilians,
and destruction of homes and infrastructure.
The civilian toll continues to rise, deepening instability in already vulnerable communities.
Escalation Extends Beyond Military Incursions
Amid the intensifying situation, eight Israeli settlers reportedly crossed into Syrian-held territory from the UNDOF line. The settlers allegedly breached the zone using a disc saw and reached Bir al-Ajam, opposite the settlement of Aloni Habashan, before being escorted back by Israeli forces.
In a separate incident, Israeli settlers raided Syrian land in the Mount Hermon area, adding to fears that settler-led provocations are expanding beyond the occupied Golan into Syrian territory itself.
A Growing Threat to Syria’s Southern Frontier
Taken together, the incidents point to an accelerating Israeli occupation campaign seeking to undermine the stability of Syria’s southern frontier.
Israeli officials continue to insist they will not withdraw from the region due to its “strategic value,” signaling the likelihood of further escalation.
The latest Beit Jinn confrontation — resulting in 13 wounded Israeli troops and 13 Syrian martyrs — underscores the volatility of the situation and the increasing risk of wider conflict along the Syrian-Israeli line of separation. (PW)