During the night of April 2 (Wednesday), a group of armed militants opened fire on IDF forces operating near the Jabiliya Dam, close to the towns of Tasil and Nawa in southern Syria.
According to local reports, the IDF responded with several artillery and airstrikes throughout the night in the vicinity of the dam and around Tell al-Jumoua and Tell al-Jabiye.
Local sources claim that the Israeli strikes resulted in approximately 10 dead and 10 additional injuries, most of them from the town of Nawa. It should be noted that videos circulated on various platforms show that at least some of the casualties (as well as others surrounding them) were dressed in military uniforms and carrying combat gear and weapons. Additionally, social media networks have been flooded with calls urging local residents to confront Israeli forces, and several videos allegedly showed civilians moving toward the scene of the incident.
A few hours after the incident, the “Islamic Resistance Front in Syria” issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack on Israeli forces, claiming they hit several soldiers and even downed an Israeli drone. However, the credibility of these claims remains questionable.
This is the second incident in the past week in which IDF forces have come under fire in this area, suggesting an escalation that is evolving into a significant security challenge for Israel. What began as protests and stone-throwing has since progressed to the torching of humanitarian aid packages provided by the IDF and has now escalated into ambushes and live fire directed at Israeli troops.
A key concern is that this trend could be exploited by hostile actors who might leverage it and the existing weaponry in southern Syria to challenge Israel and establish a new front against it. Potential players already active in Syria include Iran, Hezbollah, Turkey, global jihadist elements, and Palestinian terrorist organizations.
There is no doubt that the presence of IDF forces in southern Syria is currently crucial for Israel’s security. However, the longer this presence continues, the greater the risks it entails- necessitating careful strategic planning and preparation.
