Israel Conducts Ground Raid in Syria, Detaining Syrian National Linked to Iran

The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it conducted a ground raid in Syria, capturing a Syrian citizen linked to Iranian networks. This marks the first instance of Israel publicly acknowledging its troops operating within Syrian territory during the ongoing conflict.

While Israel has engaged in numerous airstrikes in Syria over the past year—aiming at members of Hezbollah and Iranian officials, who are closely allied with both Hezbollah and Syria—this is the first time it has confirmed a ground operation.

The Israeli military described the capture as part of a special operation “that took place in recent months,” although specific details about when it occurred were not disclosed. A pro-government Syrian radio station, Sham FM, reported that an Israeli force executed a “kidnapping operation” over the summer targeting an individual in southern Syria.

This revelation comes amid Israel's intensified bombardment campaign in Lebanon over the past six weeks and its ground invasion along the shared border, aiming to weaken Hezbollah’s capabilities. On Saturday, an Israeli military official mentioned that naval forces conducted a raid in northern Lebanon, apprehending a senior Hezbollah operative.

Israeli forces identified the detained man as Ali Soleiman al-Assi from Saida, located in southern Syria. The military indicated he had been under surveillance for several months due to his involvement in Iranian initiatives aimed at areas near the Golan Heights, which Israel annexed.

Footage released by the army showed soldiers capturing al-Assi inside a building before transporting him to Israel for questioning.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Lebanese border on Sunday, emphasizing efforts to prevent Hezbollah from rearming through what he termed an “oxygen lifeline” of Iranian weapons transferred via Syria. He stated that Israel's operations aim to deter further attacks from Hezbollah into northern Israel.

Over the past year, Israeli strikes have resulted in more than 2,500 deaths in Lebanon. Conversely, 69 Israelis have died due to projectiles launched by Hezbollah.

In addition to actions against Hezbollah, Israeli forces have also maintained their offensive operations against Hamas fighters regrouping in northern Gaza. Recently, shell fire targeted Kamal Adwan Hospital, injuring patients including children. The hospital's director reported damage to key facilities just after a World Health Organization delegation concluded its visit there.

Kamal Adwan Hospital and two other nearby medical centers have faced multiple strikes amid ongoing conflict. Earlier this month, Israeli troops stormed Kamal Adwan and detained numerous individuals including medical staff; they alleged that Hamas operatives were present without providing verification of these claims.

In Khan Younis’ eastern district of southern Gaza, an Israeli strike killed at least eight Palestinians—including four children—and wounded others during an outdoor gathering. The Nasser Hospital received most victims and confirmed these figures.

A reported drone strike on Saturday hit a clinic where children were receiving polio vaccinations in northern Gaza but was denied responsibility by the Israeli military despite conflicting accounts regarding responsibility for civilian injuries.

The director general of Gaza’s Health Ministry indicated that this strike occurred shortly after a U.N. delegation left the site while UNICEF expressed concern over potential violations during humanitarian pauses agreed upon for vaccination efforts.

Northern Gaza has faced extensive isolation due to ongoing military offensives leading to significant casualties and displacements among civilians. Recent weeks have seen renewed efforts to administer polio vaccinations following reports of new cases—the first detected there since 1998—with health authorities warning that many more infections might be present without symptoms.