Clashes in the Damascus countryside leave 9 dead and 6 Israeli soldiers wounded

The town of Beit Jinn in the southern Damascus countryside witnessed, at dawn on Friday, clashes and mutual shelling between Israeli forces and local groups, resulting in the death of 9 people and the injury of 6 soldiers from the Israeli army, three of whom are in critical condition, according to Syrian and Israeli sources.

Media outlets affiliated with the transitional government in Syria said that clashes erupted following a “limited incursion” by an Israeli force into the town, which is located about 10 kilometers from the border with Israel and Mount Hermon, followed by Israeli artillery and air strikes targeting the area.

According to Syrian sources, the shelling resulted in the deaths of 9 residents of the town, while “Al-Ikhbariya” channel reported that the clashes began after an Israeli patrol was surrounded inside Beit Jinn before it withdrew.

For its part, the Israeli army announced that 6 of its soldiers were injured during the clashes, noting that three of them are in serious condition. “Sky News” also quoted field sources as saying that there was large-scale displacement from the town following the shelling.

In a later statement, the Israeli army said it had carried out an arrest operation targeting individuals suspected of belonging to the “Islamic Group,” based on intelligence information it said it had gathered over the past weeks, adding that the group had been active in the Beit Jinn area and carrying out attacks against Israeli civilians.