Israel Discloses ‘Special Operation’ in Syria
The Israel Defense Forces reported that the purpose of the “special operation” was to apprehend a “terrorist operative” linked to Iran. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The Israeli military has announced that it conducted a ground raid in Syria to apprehend “a terrorist operative” associated with Iran. This declaration on Sunday is significant as it marks the first acknowledgment from Israel of its troops operating on Syrian territory since the escalation of conflict in the Middle East last year.
In recent weeks, Israel has intensified its efforts against the Hezbollah Islamist movement, launching a ground offensive in Lebanon and targeting Iranian positions with missile strikes.
The Israel Defense Forces did not provide details about when the operation in Syria occurred. However, an Associated Press report referenced a pro-government Syrian radio station, which claimed on Sunday that Israeli forces executed a “kidnapping operation” during the summer aimed at a man located in the southern region of Syria.
The individual in question, identified as Syrian citizen Ali Soleiman al-Assi, was captured “during an intelligence-based, special IDF operation,” as stated by the Israeli military on X platform on Sunday.
According to the IDF, al-Assi, whom they describe as part of an Iranian terror network, resided in the Saida area of southern Syria, approximately 60 km from the Israeli border. The Israeli military accused him of “gathering intelligence on IDF troops in the border area for future terror activity.”
“The IDF will not allow Iranian proxies in southern Syria to operate and threaten Israeli civilians,” the statement emphasized.
Over the past year, Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes in Syria, focusing on Hezbollah members and Iranian officials, as Iran is an ally of both the Shiite movement and the Assad regime. The IDF has not previously disclosed any ground operations within Syria.
In September, Israel escalated its campaign against Hezbollah, initiating Operation Northern Arrows to target Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry and the IDF assert that they have “eliminated” nearly all of Hezbollah’s senior military leaders, including the group’s longtime secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, and his possible successor, Hashem Safieddine.
In April, an Israeli airstrike targeted the Iranian embassy complex in Damascus, resulting in the deaths of 16 individuals, including eight members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and two Syrian civilians.
Amid an intensifying cycle of violence, Israel launched a series of attacks on Iranian targets last week in retaliation for missile strikes from Iran directed at the Jewish state in early October. Reports indicate that Tehran is reportedly planning to retaliate against Israel before the U.S. presidential election on November 5.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
In recent weeks, Israel has intensified its efforts against the Hezbollah Islamist movement, launching a ground offensive in Lebanon and targeting Iranian positions with missile strikes.
The Israel Defense Forces did not provide details about when the operation in Syria occurred. However, an Associated Press report referenced a pro-government Syrian radio station, which claimed on Sunday that Israeli forces executed a “kidnapping operation” during the summer aimed at a man located in the southern region of Syria.
The individual in question, identified as Syrian citizen Ali Soleiman al-Assi, was captured “during an intelligence-based, special IDF operation,” as stated by the Israeli military on X platform on Sunday.
According to the IDF, al-Assi, whom they describe as part of an Iranian terror network, resided in the Saida area of southern Syria, approximately 60 km from the Israeli border. The Israeli military accused him of “gathering intelligence on IDF troops in the border area for future terror activity.”
“The IDF will not allow Iranian proxies in southern Syria to operate and threaten Israeli civilians,” the statement emphasized.
Over the past year, Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes in Syria, focusing on Hezbollah members and Iranian officials, as Iran is an ally of both the Shiite movement and the Assad regime. The IDF has not previously disclosed any ground operations within Syria.
In September, Israel escalated its campaign against Hezbollah, initiating Operation Northern Arrows to target Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry and the IDF assert that they have “eliminated” nearly all of Hezbollah’s senior military leaders, including the group’s longtime secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, and his possible successor, Hashem Safieddine.
In April, an Israeli airstrike targeted the Iranian embassy complex in Damascus, resulting in the deaths of 16 individuals, including eight members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and two Syrian civilians.
Amid an intensifying cycle of violence, Israel launched a series of attacks on Iranian targets last week in retaliation for missile strikes from Iran directed at the Jewish state in early October. Reports indicate that Tehran is reportedly planning to retaliate against Israel before the U.S. presidential election on November 5.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
