Israeli Civilians Breach Syria Border in Two Locations; IDF Returns All 13 to Israel

13 civilians were detained tonight after breaching the border fence with Syria in two separate locations, in an incident the IDF describes as a serious and illegal act that endangered both the civilians and the soldiers responding to the scene.

According to reports, the civilians, affiliated with a group calling itself Chalutzei HaBashan, crossed from Israeli territory into Syria with the intention of establishing agricultural farms in the Bashan region. The first group used a power saw to cut through the fence in the central Golan, reaching the Syrian village of Bir Ajam opposite Aloni HaBashan. This group also toured the abandoned village of Quneitra, an area that was under Israeli control from the 1967 Six Day War until the 1974 disengagement agreement with the Assad regime. A second group crossed near the Chermon, where a pursuit was launched.

The IDF said forces “rushed to both sites and shortly afterward located the civilians,” adding that “after some of them confronted the forces, they were safely returned to Israeli territory under IDF escort.” All 13 were handed over to Israel Police for continued handling. 

The IDF emphasized that such activity is forbidden in the tense northern sector, where the military is maintaining heightened readiness amid cross-border threats and ongoing friction along the Syrian frontier.

According to Channel 14, one of the activists who entered Syria said “Thank God, we are privileged to walk in the Bashan region — the land of our forefathers. We call on the government to allow us to continue holding on to the Bashan region and not evict us from here.”