The IDF says it is investigating after a military-issued cellphone belonging to an Israeli soldier was reportedly left behind in southern Syria. Footage published by Syria's SANA agency appears to show the device, a rugged Samsung XCover Pro 6, at Tal al-Maghar near the border village of Abidin. The army stated the matter is under review and handled through appropriate channels.
The IDF confirmed Tuesday it is investigating an incident in which a military-issued cellphone belonging to an Israeli soldier was left behind in southern Syria, with footage published by Syria's SANA news agency appearing to show the device at Tal al-Maghar, near the border village of Abidin. The army said the matter is under review and handled through appropriate channels.
The desk has tracked this story since Tuesday 09:18 Jerusalem, when initial reports emerged that a classified IDF device had been lost near the Syrian border. By the same timestamp, the IDF confirmed it had disconnected the device from its network, and that the incident was known and under investigation. Subsequent reports — all published at 09:18 — clarified that the phone was a Samsung XCover Pro 6 with IDF identification stickers, and that it was located by Syrian residents. The current development adds the IDF's formal statement that it is investigating and reviewing the matter.
As The Zioneer reported late Monday (Jun 29), a separate incident saw IDF equipment — including knee pads and a locked Samsung phone — left behind at a vacated position in the Daraa district. That location, Tell Maa'z, was the subject of SANA images showing the aftermath of an IDF withdrawal there, as The Zioneer also reported. Israeli military activity in the Abdin area was previously highlighted by footage of IDF soldiers firing near a Syrian news crew covering an incursion into the village, according to a Monday report.
It remains unclear how the phone was left behind, whether sensitive data may have been compromised, or what specific operational activity led to the loss. The IDF has not indicated when the investigation is expected to conclude.
8 developments
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- DevelopingIED explodes near Syrian Army commander's vehicle in Al-Bab, Aleppo
- DevelopingLebanese sources report IDF artillery fire on Yater village, controlled blast in Itron
- StrongIDF: Eilat sirens were a false identification
Source and signal
- Internal intake