A child wounded by Israeli airstrikes on the village of Beit Jinn in southern Syria, November 28, 2025

Israel’s forces have killed at least 13 people and wounded 25 in southern Syria after a failed operation to arrest local men.

The Israelis entered the village of Beit Jinn in southwest Damascus Province around 4 a.m. to detain the men. The troops were ambushed by local fighters, wounding six soldiers, three of them seriously.

Israel responded with airstrikes on the village until 10 a.m. Rescue teams were unable to reach the area.

The Israel Defense Forces said they were trying to seize two brothers in al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group), acting on intelligence that they were planning attacks on Israel.

As troops took the men from their home, assailants fired on them. An army Humvee was stuck, and the troops inside were forced to abandon the vehicle inside the village. Two officers and a reservist were seriously hurt. Another reservist was moderately wounded, and two were lightly hurt.

The IDF then brought in helicopters, drones, and fighter jets.

Syria’s Foreign Ministry denounced the Israeli “criminal aggression” as a “war crime” aiming to “ignite the region”.

Since the fall of the Assad regime last December, Israel has been expanding its zone of occupation in southern Syria. It has periodically bombed the area, including near Damascus, and carried out raids.

Israel Raids Village in Southern Syria — 7 Arrests, 1 Person Reportedly Killed