Israel to Increase Airstrikes in Syria Following Beit Jann Operation
Israeli media reports suggest a new trend among Israeli security forces to reduce risky on-ground arrests and instead focus on airstrikes for operations within Syrian territory, following a deadly operation in Beit Jann that resulted in 13 civilian casualties.
Channel 13 highlighted this shift, quoting security leaders who stated that the events in Beit Jann were not a pre-planned ambush but rather a response from locals who saw military activities, gathered, and opened fire. These developments indicate a move towards a less risky strategy for Israeli forces.
This announcement followed an Israeli military operation in Beit Jann, located in western Damascus, which reportedly killed 13 civilians, including women and children, according to Syrian sources.
Syrian state television reported that the shelling occurred after clashes between locals and an Israeli army patrol that entered Beit Jann to arrest three young men before retreating and positioning itself on the outskirts of the city.
The Israeli military confirmed that troops from Reserve Brigade 55 conducted operations to apprehend suspects and claimed that their forces came under fire during the operation, returning fire with air support. The military reported that two officers and a reservist were seriously injured, while others sustained moderate to light injuries.
The shelling prompted residents to flee to surrounding villages, with several injured individuals arriving at Al-Mawasa University Hospital. The Minister of Higher Education, Marwan al-Halabi, confirmed the medical staff's readiness to treat the cases and the full preparedness of hospitals.
Following Friday prayers, widespread protests erupted in Syria, with thousands gathering in city squares to protest against the Israeli airstrikes on Beit Jann and to call for Syrian unity.
In addition to the operation in Beit Jann, Israeli incursions were reported at several fronts in Syria, with Syrian media reporting an Israeli incursion in the Yarmouk Valley near Daraa, while the Sana agency reported Israeli troops firing on civilians in the village of Al-Hamidiyah in Quneitra, preventing residents from returning to their village for half an hour after attending a public event.
