13 killed, as many wounded in Israeli attack on Beit Jinn town in Damascus countryside

At least 13 people — including women and children — were killed, and many others wounded early Friday in an Israeli attack on the town of Beit Jinn and the road to Mazraat Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside, according to Syrian media and local sources.

Many still trapped under rubble as death toll expected to rise, according to reports.

An Anadolu correspondent, citing local sources, reported that among the dead were two women and two children. 

State‑run broadcaster Alikhbaria said that Israeli drones continued flying over the area after the strikes, particularly along the road linking Beit Jinn and Mazraat Beit Jinn. Many victims remain trapped under rubble as rescue efforts continue.

Emergency crews, including civil‑defence teams and ambulances from the Damascus countryside health directorate, entered the area to transport the dead and treat the wounded. Dozens of families reportedly fled toward nearby safer areas following the attack. 

According to statements from the military of Israel, six of its soldiers were injured,  three critically, during the operation. The army claimed to have detained members of Jamaa Islamiya, alleging they had been operating in the Beit Jinn area and had planned attacks against Israeli civilians. 

However, the group denied involvement, condemning the air‑strikes on civilians and rejecting any link to the events in Beit Jinn. They affirmed that they carry out no activity outside their home country and condemned what they called “the insertion of its name into actions that have nothing to do with it.”

The attack has drawn widespread condemnation. The government of Syria described the raid as a “criminal assault” and a “full‑blown war crime.” Several Arab foreign ministries and regional organisations denounced the incursion, calling on the international community to intervene and hold the aggressors accountable. 

Since December 2024, when the regime of Bashar al-Assad collapsed, Israel has significantly expanded its military operations inside southern Syria, carrying out frequent airstrikes and incursions in regions including the Damascus countryside and the Golan Heights buffer zone. The strike on Beit Jinn is among the deadliest in recent months.

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