Israel claims Iran has been running a terrorist cell in Syria

During an operation conducted in southern Syria on July 2nd, Israeli forces captured a terrorist cell it says was “operated by Iran,” according to The National via Reuters.

Following the fall of former Syrian leader, Bashar Al Assad, Israeli forces have been operating in Syria, allegedly to “prevent the entrenchment of any terrorist elements,” as stated by Israeli military officials.

Israel has established a buffer zone near the border, and although Syrian authorities have denounced Israel’s military presence, Israel persists through the justification of “protecting Israeli civilians and residents of Golan Heights in particular.”

In the course of the events on July 2nd, Israel claimed to have “completed a night-time operation to apprehend a terrorist cell,” where several firearms and grenades were located.

Reportedly, an armed group in southern Syria, previously part of Hezbollah, is believed to be responsible for conducting a rocket attack on an Israeli-occupied area in the Golan Heights. According to the Israeli military, two rockets hit an open space and caused no casualties. Israel still responded with air raids on multiple military locations in Syria.

This was the first such attack on Israel from Syria since rebels ousted Assad. A previously unknown group which called themselves the Martyr Mohammed Deif Brigades have claimed responsibility, Deif being the former military leader of Hamas who was killed by Israel.

Syria’s president Ahmed al-Sharaa has struggled to consolidate power in Syria due to religious-based violence, but dealing with Israel’s response to the attack serves as another significant obstacle to his objectives.

Because of US President Donald Trump’s push for reconciliation between Israel and Syria, Israel has become open to the prospect of normalising ties with Syria and Lebanon, broadening the Abraham Accords.

The National via Reuters, Maghrebi.org