Israel launches airstrike on Syrian town, resulting in 13 fatalities

On November 28, the Israeli Defense Forces carried out an operation in the southern Syrian town of Beit Jinn, resulting in the deaths of 13 residents, including two children. Several Israeli soldiers were also seriously injured during the confrontation.

The Israeli military characterized the incident as an "exchange of fire" in Beit Jinn, reporting that three of its personnel sustained severe injuries. Authorities additionally stated that three individuals linked to the Lebanon-based militant group Jamaa Islamiya were detained.

Family members confirmed that among the deceased were two girls, aged 4 and 17, and a 10-year-old boy, according to The Washington Post. The Syrian Foreign Ministry denounced the attack, labeling it a "criminal operation by an Israeli occupation force in Beit Jinn," with Al Jazeera reporting that the ministry described the bombardment following a failed Israeli incursion as a "war crime."

Syrian civil defense teams indicated they were unable to enter the town to aid the wounded, citing ongoing Israeli targeting of any movement within the area.

Since the Syrian civil war destabilized Bashar al-Assads government, Israel has occupied a demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights and other parts of Syria, conducting numerous airstrikes including in Damascus. Some of these military actions have been classified as war crimes by Human Rights Watch.

Earlier this month, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited the White House and met with President Donald Trump, who subsequently suspended all sanctions on Syria for six months. Despite this, Al-Sharaa has not moved toward establishing formal relations with Israel.

Author: Sophia Brooks