IDF Arrests Ten Israelis Who Entered Syria
IDF soldiers operating in the area located the civilians, returned them from Syrian territory to Israel, and transferred them to the Israel Police.
Ten Israeli civilians were arrested after crossing the Israel-Syria border, the IDF announced Sunday night.
IDF soldiers operating in the area located the civilians, returned them from Syrian territory to Israel, and transferred them to the Israel Police.
“The IDF strongly condemns this incident and emphasizes its severity, which constitutes a criminal offense that endangers civilians and IDF soldiers,” the military said.
KAN News reported that the incident was the fourth time in the past day that activists from the Habashan Pioneers group attempted to cross the border. The group is one of several activist movements seeking to establish Jewish settlements inside Syria.
The incident follows a similar attempt several weeks ago, when around 40 Israeli civilians gathered in the Golan Heights and crossed several hundred meters into Syrian territory before being apprehended by the IDF. They were also returned to Israel and transferred to police for questioning.
According to Israeli media reports, those involved in the previous incident were also members of Habashan Pioneers.
The repeated attempts have raised concern among security officials because unauthorized border crossings can endanger both the civilians involved and the soldiers sent to retrieve them. The Israel-Syria border remains a sensitive military zone, particularly amid ongoing instability in Syria and heightened Israeli activity across the northern front.
The IDF said it views such incidents with severity and will continue to act to prevent civilians from entering hostile or restricted territory.