Photo by
IDF Spokesperson/TPS-IL on 2 July, 2025
Israeli Forces Arrest Iran-Backed Terror Cell in Southern Syria
Jerusalem, 2 July, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- Israeli troops arrested members of an Iranian-backed terror cell during a special overnight operation in southern Syria, the Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday.
Weeks of intelligence gathering resulted in the capture of several terrorists in the areas of Umm al-Lux and Ain al-Batzali. The soldiers also found several weapons and grenades.
On Sunday, the IDF disclosed the arrests of several terror suspects in southern Syria.
Israel’s Druze community of 152,000 has been calling on the government to take stronger measures to protect their co-religionists in southern Syria. Around 40,000 Druze live in the southern Syrian provinces of Quneitra, Da’ara and Sweida under Israeli protection. Netanyahu has called for the demilitarization of southern Syria.
In May, the Israeli army set up a field hospital to treat civilians near the Syrian village of Hader.
Israel sent forces into the 235 sq km buffer zone to prevent Syrian rebels from approaching the border when the regime of Bashar Assad collapsed in December. Israel also launched waves of airstrikes on Syrian army assets and Iranian stockpiles to prevent them from falling into the hands of radical Islamists.
While Israeli forces have briefly entered the buffer zone in the past, December’s takeover marked the first time since its establishment that the IDF set up positions there. The demilitarized zone was established with a ceasefire in 1974 that ended the Yom Kippur War.
Israel considers the 1974 ceasefire agreement void until order is restored in Syria.
