Israeli troops reportedly staged a rare overnight ground raid near Damascus this week, Syrian state media said, marking an escalation in Israel’s efforts to contain threats emanating from Syria even as the United States pushes for a security arrangement between the two longtime adversaries.
The operation, carried out near the town of Kiswah in the Damascus suburbs, lasted for hours and was supported by Israeli airstrikes, according to Syria’s foreign ministry. The strikes killed at least six Syrian soldiers, state media reported. Syrian forces later claimed to have uncovered surveillance and eavesdropping devices at the site.
Israel’s military, consistent with its longstanding practice, declined to confirm or deny details of the operation. But Defense Minister Israel Katz was blunt about the country’s broader objectives. “Our forces are operating in all of the theaters of battle day and night for the security of Israel,” Mr. Katz wrote on X Thursday.
The raid underscores Israel’s willingness to project power deep inside hostile territory to secure its borders. Syria, which fought three wars with Israel in the past, remains a bitter enemy even after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December.
Following Assad’s fall, the Trump administration has supported negotiations between Syria’s new rulers and Israel, with Washington seeking to stabilize the region.
Israeli officials have demanded that Syria demilitarize the entire border area between Damascus and Israel. But Jerusalem remains wary of the new Syrian leadership, noting its roots in jihadist movements.
For Israel, the concern is not only about border security but also about preventing militant groups from gaining access to advanced weapons and intelligence.
Analysts say the Kiswah raid was aimed at securing intelligence assets before a deal potentially forces Israel to scale back its operations. “Israel is starting to acknowledge its military presence there is temporary and will be over soon if there’s a security pact,” said Carmit Valensi, head of the Syria program at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. She added that the strikes likely sought to prevent intelligence-gathering devices from falling into Syrian hands.
Since Assad’s fall, Israel has mounted 421 ground incursions and nearly 1,000 airstrikes inside Syria, according to data compiled by Charles Lister, a Syria analyst.
Many of these operations have targeted remnants of Assad’s military and Iranian-backed militias that had entrenched themselves in the south.
The Kiswah raid was notable for taking place far from Israel’s security zone in southern Syria, signaling a deeper reach into Syrian territory.
Syria’s new government has lodged protests at the United Nations, denouncing the Israeli operations as “a grave violation of international law” and “a clear breach” of sovereignty. Yet despite the rhetoric, Damascus has refrained from military retaliation.
The Trump administration, for its part, has taken a pragmatic view, backing Syria’s transitional government while encouraging Israel’s efforts to neutralize lingering threats.
For conservatives, Israel’s resolve highlights a stark reality: security in the Middle East often depends not on international bodies or diplomatic promises, but on the willingness of nations like Israel to act decisively in their own defense.
As negotiations continue, Israel appears determined to shape the battlefield on its own terms—ensuring that, whatever peace may come, its security is not left to chance.
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