A deadly escalation has unfolded southwest of the Syrian capital, as Israeli forces launched a combined helicopter and artillery assault on the town of Beit Jinn. The operation, which followed a rare ground incursion, has left at least 13 people dead, dozens wounded, and sparked a wave of displacement across the slopes of Mount Hermon.
According to a Syria TV correspondent, the violence began at dawn on Friday when helicopters and artillery belonging to the Israeli army bombarded the town. The strikes resulted in what local sources are describing as a massacre, with 13 killed and approximately 25 injured.
The aerial and artillery bombardment was reportedly precipitated by a direct confrontation on the ground. Correspondents stated that an Israeli military patrol had penetrated Beit Jinn earlier that morning to arrest three young men.
The incursion sparked immediate clashes between local residents and the Israeli forces. Following the skirmish, the Israeli patrol withdrew from the town center and positioned itself on the Bat al-Warda hill on the outskirts, from where the subsequent shelling and helicopter strikes were launched.
Israeli media outlet Channel 13 later revealed that six Israeli soldiers were injured during the clashes in Beit Jinn. The channel reported that following these injuries, the Israeli army is considering adopting a strategy of "air assassinations" to deal with security threats in the sector.
Humanitarian Crisis
The intensity of the assault has created a dire humanitarian situation within the town. Reports indicate that the bodies of the victims remain inside the local mosque, with residents unable to conduct burials due to the continued Israeli military presence and ongoing aggression.
Fear of further escalation has triggered a significant displacement of civilians. By Saturday evening, families were seen fleeing Beit Jinn toward the nearby village of "Beit Jinn Farm." This exodus was driven by the intensive flight of occupation helicopters and the movement of Israeli military vehicles launching from positions in the "Al-Talul Al-Hammar" area toward local farms.
Wider Military Movement
The Israeli operations appear to be expanding beyond Beit Jinn. On Sunday evening, a Syria TV correspondent reported that an Israeli patrol, consisting of an armored vehicle and a troop carrier, penetrated the vicinity of Al-Hamidiyah in the Quneitra countryside. This movement was also accompanied by Israeli helicopter flights, keeping the region on high alert.