Israel Targets Suspected Terrorist in Southern Syria

Israel said it targeted a suspected “terrorist” in southern Syria on Saturday, while Damascus condemned the incident as a violation of Syrian sovereignty amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries.

Syria’s foreign ministry said an Israeli drone struck a civilian vehicle on a road near Beit Jinn, a village in the countryside west of Damascus. The ministry said civilians were injured in the attack, while Syrian state television reported that one person was wounded.

The Israeli military confirmed that it had carried out an attack in southern Syria but provided few details about the operation. In a statement, the military said its forces fired toward an individual it described as a terrorist whose activities presented an immediate threat to Israeli soldiers. It did not specify the method or weapon used in the strike.

The incident comes during a renewed escalation in Israel-Syria tensions. Earlier this week, Israel bombed an airbase in northwestern Syria on Tuesday, prompting criticism from U.S. special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, who described the Israeli action as “unnecessary.”

Syria’s foreign ministry accused Israel of conducting repeated attacks on Syrian territory and characterized Saturday’s strike as a “blatant violation” of the country’s sovereignty. Damascus said Israel would bear responsibility for the consequences of its military operations.

Israeli forces continue to operate in parts of southern Syria as security tensions remain elevated along the border. Israel also controls territory in southwestern Syria that its forces seized following the overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

The latest Israeli strike adds to concerns over further escalation between Israel and Syria as Damascus challenges Israel’s continued military presence and attacks inside Syrian territory. Israel, meanwhile, has maintained that its operations are intended to counter security threats and protect its troops operating in the region.