Six Israeli soldiers were injured and 13 Syrian civilians were killed during clashes in the Damascus countryside

The town of Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside woke up at dawn on Friday to heavy Israeli shelling, which, according to local sources, resulted in 13 deaths, coinciding with the incursion of an Israeli military patrol into the town in an unprecedented event in years.

According to local sources, Israeli army helicopters and artillery targeted the town on the slopes of Mount Hermon, southwest of Damascus, killing at least nine people and wounding other civilians.

The shelling came after clashes broke out between residents and an Israeli patrol that stormed Beit Jinn and arrested three young men, before retreating to the Bat Warda hill on the outskirts of the town, according to local sources.

According to reports, the area is witnessing a large displacement of residents towards nearby villages, amid fears of renewed shelling and a rise in the number of casualties.

The Israeli army announced that forces from the 55th Reserve Brigade of the 210th Division carried out an operation to arrest wanted persons suspected of involvement in operations targeting Israel.

The statement indicated that the force came under fire during the operation, which resulted in the serious injury of two officers and a reserve fighter, and another with moderate injuries, in addition to minor injuries among the soldiers.

The Israeli army confirmed that it had arrested all the wanted persons and “eliminated a number of militants,” stressing that it would continue its operations to prevent any potential threat.

On the other hand, the Syrian Civil Defense said that the ambulance and rescue teams were unable to enter the town of Beit Jinn until 9:30 in the morning, local time due to the continued Israeli targeting of any movement at its entrances, which threatens the lives of civilians and prevents aid from reaching the wounded.

Its noteworthy that Israel has intensified its strikes in Syria during 2025, especially in the vicinity of Damascus and the south of the country, under the pretext of targeting groups it considers hostile, while the Syrian authorities confirm that these attacks have caused the death of military personnel and civilians.