Israeli Forces Abduct Young Men in Rare Ground Raid in Southern Syria

Israeli troops crossed into Syria’s southern Daraa province and seized several young men, marking the latest in a series of near-daily incursions that have included raids, searches, and arrests, local sources said. The operation, which took place overnight, targeted a residential area in the countryside west of Daraa city. Witnesses reported that armed Israeli units surrounded several homes before taking the men into custody. The exact number of detainees and their identities were not immediately confirmed. Since the fall of the Assad government in late 2024, Israel has carried out frequent military actions inside Syrian territory, particularly in the south. While most operations have involved airstrikes or artillery fire, ground raids have become more common in recent weeks. Israeli officials describe these activities as necessary security measures to prevent weapons from reaching hostile groups near the border. Syrian authorities and local residents, however, view the incursions as a violation of national sovereignty and a source of growing instability. The abduction in Daraa is expected to heighten tensions in a region already on edge, with no sign of a diplomatic solution to the escalating cross-border operations.