IDF: Israeli civilians detained after crossing Golan Heights border into Syria

On December 22, Israeli military officials said that several Israeli civilians crossed the border from the Golan Heights into Syrian territory, prompting a rapid response by security forces.

According to a statement from the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), troops were deployed to the area after receiving reports of the breach.

The civilians were located shortly afterwards and returned safely to Israeli territory. No injuries were reported.

The individuals involved were detained and are expected to be transferred to the Israel Police for further investigation. Authorities did not disclose the identities of those involved or the circumstances that led to the border crossing.

The IDF described the incident as serious, warning that unauthorised crossings into hostile territory pose significant risks to both civilians and military personnel.

Israeli forces have continued near-daily incursions into southern Syria, particularly in Quneitra governorate, where Syrian state media report arrests, land clearing and the establishment of military checkpoints.

Damascus has described the latest Israeli move in the village of Ain Ziwan as a violation of Syrian sovereignty, saying Israeli troops used several military vehicles to set up a checkpoint.

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the incursion followed Israeli advances towards multiple towns in the southern Quneitra countryside a day earlier. 

By Aghakazim Guliyev