Israel Shifts Focus to Airstrikes in Syria Following Beit Jinn Incident
Israeli media reports have indicated a strategic shift within Israeli security agencies, moving from ground arrest operations to a greater reliance on aerial assassination missions in Syria. This change follows a violent incident in the village of Beit Jinn that resulted in 13 civilian casualties, including women and children.
Channel 13 reported that security officials stated the events in Beit Jinn were not a pre-planned ambush but rather a reaction from local residents who fired upon the Israeli army during its activities in the area. This incident has prompted a reconsideration of tactics to adopt a less risky strategy for Israeli forces.
The announcement of this strategic shift came after an Israeli military operation in Beit Jinn, located in the western suburbs of Damascus, which reportedly led to the deaths of 13 civilians, including women and children, according to Syrian sources.
Syrian state television reported that the bombardment followed clashes between residents and an Israeli patrol that had infiltrated Beit Jinn and detained three young men before withdrawing to a position on the outskirts of the village.
The Israeli army confirmed that troops from the reserve brigade 55 conducted operations in the village to apprehend suspects, asserting that its forces were fired upon during the operation and responded with gunfire supported by air coverage. The military reported that two officers and a reservist were seriously injured, along with others suffering light to moderate injuries.
The bombardment caused residents to flee to neighboring villages, and several injured individuals were transported to Al-Muwasat University Hospital. The Minister of Higher Education, Marwan al-Halabi, stated that medical personnel were prepared to handle the cases and that hospitals were fully equipped.
Additionally, widespread protests erupted in Syria following Friday prayers, with thousands gathering in city squares to denounce Israeli airstrikes on Beit Jinn and call for national unity.
Beyond the Beit Jinn operation, reports of Israeli violations have emerged from multiple fronts in Syria, including an Israeli force's infiltration into the Yarmouk basin in the Daraa suburbs. The SANA news agency reported that Israeli forces opened fire on civilians in the village of Al-Hamidiyah in Quneitra, also preventing residents from returning to their village for half an hour after participating in a public event.
