Israel has launched an investigation into an ambush targeting its military forces near the Syrian town of Beit Jann, located in the Damascus Governorate. The incident, which occurred early Friday, resulted in injuries to six Israeli soldiers, raising concerns about potential intelligence leaks.
According to preliminary reports, the Israeli patrol entered Beit Jann with the stated objective of apprehending three individuals allegedly linked to what Israel describes as an “Islamist group.” Local residents reportedly confronted the Israeli forces, leading to a confrontation in which six soldiers, including three officers, were wounded.
Following the clash, Israel reportedly conducted airstrikes on the town, resulting in casualties. Syrian health officials have reported that the strikes killed 13 people, including women and children, and wounded 25 others. These figures are still being verified.
Beit Jann is situated on the slopes of Mount Hermon, approximately 10 kilometers from the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The town has been subjected to repeated Israeli military actions in recent months, including aerial bombardments, artillery fire, and ground incursions.
Intelligence Leak Suspicions
Reports suggest that senior Israeli military officials are investigating the possibility of sensitive information being leaked from within the 210th Division prior to the operation in Beit Jann. It’s been reported that the operation, initially planned for the previous week, was postponed due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s tour of the buffer zone inside Syrian territory on November 19th. The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned this tour as a violation of Syrian sovereignty.
One unnamed Israeli officer stated that while the primary suspect and his brother were apprehended, the withdrawing forces encountered heavy fire in what appeared to be a planned ambush. The circumstances surrounding the attack have fueled suspicions about how the attackers obtained the information necessary to stage the ambush.
An official statement from the Israeli military confirmed that two officers and a reserve soldier sustained serious injuries, another soldier suffered moderate injuries, and an additional officer and reserve soldier were also wounded. The investigation is ongoing to determine the exact sequence of events and identify any potential security breaches.
