Damascus Condemns Israeli Bombing of Beit Jann and Calls it a 'War Crime'

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned on Friday the Israeli incursion into its territory and the targeting of local residents, describing it as a 'war crime,' following the death of 13 people in the operation, according to a new official toll.

The Ministry stated in a statement, 'The Syrian Arab Republic condemns in the strongest terms the criminal attack carried out by a patrol of the Israeli occupation army through its incursion' into Beit Jann, considering that its act of 'targeting' the village 'with brutal and deliberate shelling constitutes a complete war crime.'

Thirteen people were killed in an Israeli bombing that targeted the town of Beit Jann in the Damascus countryside early Friday, coinciding with the incursion of an Israeli military patrol into the town.

Syrian TV reported that helicopters belonging to the Israeli army and its artillery bombed Beit Jann, located on the slopes of Mount Hermon, southwest of Damascus, resulting in 9 deaths and injuries among civilians.

It clarified that the bombing came after clashes between residents and an Israeli military patrol that had entered Beit Jann and arrested 3 young men, before withdrawing and positioning itself on the Al-Bat Al-Warda hill at the outskirts of the town.

Beit Jann is witnessing a movement of displacement among residents towards neighboring villages due to the Israeli aggression, according to Syrian TV.

For its part, the Israeli army stated that the 55th Reserve Brigade under the command of the 210th Division carried out an operation last night in the village of Beit Jann in southern Syria to arrest suspects involved in plans against Israeli citizens.

It said it arrested individuals suspected of belonging to what it called 'the Islamic group' during an operation that took place overnight in the village of Beit Jann in southern Syria. It mentioned that the Israeli forces launched the operation after receiving intelligence information in recent weeks indicating that the group was working and planning to launch attacks against Israeli civilians.

According to intelligence information, the forces came under fire during the operation and responded with gunfire supported by air support, resulting in serious injuries to two officers and a reserve fighter, and moderate injuries to another, in addition to minor injuries to two others.

The operation concluded with the arrest of all wanted individuals and the elimination of several militants, while the army confirmed its continued movement against any threat.

Israel has carried out repeated strikes across Syria during 2025, targeting sites on the outskirts of Damascus and in the south of the country, claiming these efforts are to stop threats against Israel and protect the Druze community near the border.

Israel states that it acts against armed groups it considers hostile, while Syrian authorities claim that the strikes have resulted in the deaths of military personnel.

According to the Syrian Civil Defense, as of 9:30 AM on Friday, emergency teams from the Syrian Civil Defense, which include ambulance and rescue teams, are still in the Beit Jann farm and have been unable to enter the town of Beit Jann in the southwestern Damascus countryside to assist the injured, secure the area, and conduct search operations due to fears of dangerous war remnants for the residents.

This comes amid the ongoing Israeli occupation targeting any movement at the entrances of the town, hindering the arrival of humanitarian teams and threatening the lives of civilians.