A new Israeli military incursion into Syrian territory has resulted in the deaths of at least 12 Syrians, including two children, according to Syrian state media. The incident occurred in the town of Beit Jinn, located in the Damascus countryside near the occupied Golan Heights, and has intensified concerns about escalating cross-border violence in the region.

The raid, reported early Friday, involved Israeli ground forces supported by artillery and missile strikes. Local sources say the assault forced dozens of families to flee toward safer areas as fighting intensified.

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Children Among the Dead as Strikes Pound Beit Jinn

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the bodies of five victims, including two children, were transferred to the Golan National Hospital in al-Salam, Quneitra. Israeli drones reportedly remained active above the area, limiting the movement of emergency responders.

The Syrian Civil Defence said its teams were unable to reach the town due to continued Israeli targeting of vehicles and movement on the ground.

Local residents told Al Jazeera that the strikes and ground incursion caused additional casualties and damage, intensifying fear among civilians already living under heightened insecurity.

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Six Israeli Soldiers Wounded in Clashes

The Israeli military confirmed that six Israeli soldiers were wounded in an exchange of fire during the Beit Jinn incursion, with three in serious condition. According to a statement posted on X, the operation was considered “completed,” with all individuals deemed suspects either arrested or “eliminated.”

Despite declaring the operation’s end, the Israeli army said its forces will continue to be deployed in the area “to operate against any threat” facing Israel.

Israeli media outlet Yedioth Ahronoth reported that an Israeli unit entering Beit Jinn had been surrounded, prompting heavy air and artillery strikes to enable its withdrawal. The extraction reportedly resulted in additional Syrian casualties and injuries.

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Expanding Israeli Operations in Syria

Since Israel’s expansion of its occupation in southern Syria following the December 2024 ousting of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, cross-border military operations have increased in frequency and intensity.

The Israeli army often carries out ground incursions in Quneitra province and the Damascus countryside, targeting what it describes as security threats. Analysts say that Israel views instability on its northern border as grounds for further military action.

Israeli political analyst Akiva Eldra told Al Jazeera that many in Israel support establishing a so-called “security zone” inside Syrian territory to protect Israeli borders.

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Background: Decades of Occupation and Renewed Tensions

Israel captured parts of the Syrian Golan Heights during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and has maintained control ever since. Following the fall of the Assad government, Israel violated the 1974 disengagement agreement by moving further into Syrian territory, establishing a “buffer zone” along the border, including the strategic height of Jabal al-Sheikh.

In recent years, Israel has intensified air raids across Syria, targeting what it says are military sites linked to Iran and Hezbollah. Strikes this year have included attacks on Damascus and several Syrian military installations, causing casualties among Syrian soldiers and damaging government buildings.

Earlier in November, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Israeli-occupied areas of southern Syria provoked a strong reaction from Damascus and raised new doubts about the possibility of future security negotiations.

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Reports of Abductions and Civilians Under Pressure

Across Quneitra, Israeli forces have set up checkpoints and gates, conducting searches and detaining civilians. While Israel describes these actions as security operations, Syrian officials and human rights groups refer to them as unlawful arrests or abductions. Reports indicate that up to 40 Syrians have been detained in recent weeks.

These pressures come at a time when Syria’s new government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, is facing internal challenges, including sectarian tensions and the long-term fallout of a 14-year civil war. The government is also attempting to rebuild international ties and stabilize a country still recovering from widespread devastation.