Witnesses accuse the Israeli army of arbitrary arrests in Syria
Key takeaways
- The Israeli army has arrested at least 197 men in southern Syria since late 2024.
- Issued on: 27/05/2026 - 16:19Modified: 27/05/2026 - 16:21
- While bombs fall from the sky and artillery is fired at homes, clashes break out between Israeli soldiers and some villagers.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The Israeli army has arrested at least 197 men in southern Syria since late 2024. A lawyer confirmed that 43 of them are still being held in what he says is arbitrary detention in Israeli prisons. The Israeli army, for its part, says they are targeting “suspected terrorists”.
Issued on: 27/05/2026 - 16:19Modified: 27/05/2026 - 16:21
By: The FRANCE 24 Observers / Ahmed ALMASSALMAH These three photos show Israeli soldiers carrying out patrols and manning checkpoints in Quneitra province in southern Syria. © Observers The place is Beit Jinn, in the countryside to the west of Damascus. It’s the night of November 28, 2025. Israeli soldiers launch a ground offensive. While bombs fall from the sky and artillery is fired at homes, clashes break out between Israeli soldiers and some villagers. A video posted online by the Israeli army shows soldiers arresting brothers Nidal Akasha Akasha and Muhammad Akasha Akasha in the fray. In a statement, the Israeli army claims that Nidal and Muhammad have ties to the Islamist group Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya.