6 IDF soldiers wounded after deadly clashes erupt in southern Syria

Despite the ambush, the operation succeeded, capturing two wanted Islamic Jihad operatives under long-term surveillance and bringing them into Israeli custody for questioning.

By Yair Kleinbaum, Gila Isaacson, JFeed

An intense overnight clash unfolded in the Syrian village of Beit Jann, just 8 km from the Israeli border and Mount Hermon, an area where the IDF has conducted repeated operations north of the Druze town of Hadr.

According to IDF and Israeli media reports, the operation began at 2:52 a.m., when reservists from the 55th Brigade and Northern Division 210 entered Beit Jann, located roughly 8 kilometers from the Israeli border, to detain two brothers, both operatives of the Islamic Jamaa, a Sunni terror organization linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.

The group, headquartered in Lebanon, has been active against Israel throughout the recent war with Hezbollah and maintains armed cells inside Syria.

The two suspects, involved in previous terror activity including IED attacks and rocket launches toward Israel, were arrested in their beds without resistance.

As the force exited the house with the detainees, peripheral gunfire erupted around the village.

Moments later, terrorists opened direct fire from approximately 200 meters at an IDF Humvee positioned as part of the outer security cordon. Six reservists inside the vehicle were wounded.

IDF troops returned fire, and several gunmen involved in the attack were killed, the military said. Air support, including attack helicopters, UAVs, and fighter jets, was scrambled, with jets striking pre-designated targets around the village.

The damaged Humvee became immobilized inside Beit Jann. After wounded soldiers were evacuated by helicopter under fire, the IDF later destroyed the disabled vehicle from the air to prevent it from being seized.

Despite the ambush, the operation was deemed successful because the two wanted Islamic Jamaa operatives, who had been under prolonged intelligence surveillance, were extracted and taken into Israeli custody for security questioning.

IDF soldiers are currently situated on the outskirts of Beit Jann.

IDF Spokesperson’s Unit stated this morning (Friday):

Reserve forces from the 55th “Spearhead” Brigade, operating under Division 210, carried out an overnight arrest operation in the village of Beit Jann in southern Syria. The mission followed weeks of intelligence collection pointing to activity by members of the Islamic Jamaa organization, who were advancing terror plots against Israeli civilians.

During the operation, terrorists opened fire on the Israeli forces, who returned fire as air support struck additional targets in the area.

Seven Israeli soldiers were injured: two reserve officers and one reserve soldier were seriously wounded; another reserve soldier was moderately hurt; and a reserve officer and soldier sustained light injuries. All were evacuated to hospital, and their families have been notified.

The operation concluded with the arrest of all targeted suspects and the elimination of several armed terrorists.

IDF forces remain deployed in the sector and, according to the statement, will continue operating “against any threat to the State of Israel and its citizens.”

The incident marks another escalation in the increasingly volatile area of southern Syria, where Israel has carried out multiple operations in recent months against hostile cells operating near the Hermon region.

On June 12, troops from the Alexandroni Brigade uncovered a Hamas terror cell of six operatives in Beit Jann, seizing multiple weapons and foiling planned attacks against IDF forces operating in Syria.