The IDF Spokesperson said Monday that several Israeli civilians approached the Mount Hermon area and attempted to cross the border into Syria. Troops detained them and transferred them to police. The military condemned the incident as a criminal offense that endangers civilians and disrupts operations, adding it expects law enforcement to prosecute those involved.
The IDF Spokesperson's statement, released Monday evening, details the detention of several Israeli civilians who attempted to cross into Syria at Mount Hermon earlier in the day. The military described the incident as the latest in a series of similar crossing attempts in recent days and called for the prosecution of those involved. The detainees were transferred to police for handling.
The IDF has reported four such incidents on Monday alone: the first saw six Israelis arrested after crossing into Syria near Mount Hermon, reported by ynet at 17:00 Jerusalem; a version of the second detention of additional civilians was followed by a third and then a fourth incident, all logged at 17:00 Jerusalem. The thread showed the IDF condemning the acts as criminal offenses that endanger civilians and disrupt operations.
As The Zioneer reported on Monday, the 'Bashan Pioneers' activist group, which advocates for establishing Israeli communities in Syria, made multiple attempts to cross the border in recent days; on Sunday evening the IDF stopped about 70 activists from that group. The wider context includes ongoing security incidents on the northern border, with Hezbollah threats and military activity in southern Lebanon.
It remains unclear whether the civilians detained Monday were affiliated with the 'Bashan Pioneers' or others. No further details on the identities of those involved or any prosecution timeline have been released.
5 developments
- StrongIDF detained 70 'Bashan Pioneers' activists attempting to cross into Syria at Mount Hermon
- DevelopingIDF estimates incident near Syria border approaching conclusion
- ConfirmedMilitants open fire on Israeli troops in southern Syria; no casualties
- DevelopingIDF, Ministry of Defense confirm arrest of suspect in attempted ramming near Beit Omar
Source and signal
- Internal intake