At least five people were killed during an Israeli attack in southern Syria on Friday, reported Syrian Drpopular media, while the Israeli army said that six of its soldiers were wounded in a clash during an operation to arrest members of a militant group in the area.
Syria’s state news agency SANA, citing initial information, said five people were killed, including two children. Another Syrian state media outlet, Ekhbariya, reported ten dead.
The Israeli military said its troops came under fire from militants during a nighttime operation to apprehend suspects belonging to a group it identified as the “terrorist organization Jaama Islamiya” in the Beit Jinn area of southern Syria.
Israeli troops “returned fire to the terrorists, with air support,” the Israeli army said in a statement, adding that three wounded Israeli soldiers were seriously injured.
The Israeli military said in a statement that the suspects “carried out advanced terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians,” without giving further details.
The Israeli army’s statement added that the suspects were arrested and that several militants were killed. The operation is complete.
After opposition forces ousted President Bashar al-Assad a year ago, Israel moved troops and military equipment past the 1974 buffer zone into southern Syria, including the Hermon strategic observation post.
He made regular incursions into southern Syrian villages.
Israel has declared goals that include keeping the border area clear of militants, Reuters reports.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
