The Israeli military said it arrested members of an Iranian-backed terrorist cell in southern Syria on July 2. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the suspects were apprehended in the villages of Umm al-Lux and Ain al-Batsali, south of Al-Rafeed and close to the 1974 ceasefire line near the Israeli border.
The operation was conducted by troops from the 474th Brigade under the 210th Division, with support from Unit 504, which specializes in recruiting and managing agents for intelligence gathering. The IDF said the arrests followed intelligence obtained from previous interrogations.
During the raid, soldiers recovered several firearms and grenades. The IDF released video footage showing soldiers operating in southern Syrian villages. The military believes the suspects were linked to Iranian units such as Branch 4000 of the IRGC Intelligence Organization or Unit 840, a Quds Force special operations unit accused of prior explosive attacks near the Israeli border in 2020.
⭕️Our troops completed an operation to apprehend an Iranian-operated terrorist cell in the areas of ‘Umm al-Lux’ and ‘Ain al-Batsali’ in southern Syria, following intelligence gathered during interrogations in recent weeks.
We will continue operating to prevent the entrenchment… pic.twitter.com/WNYDSY8Y99
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 2, 2025
Since the fall of Assad’s regime, Israeli forces have established a presence in a buffer zone and launched multiple operations targeting former Syrian army positions and military infrastructure. The IDF has also conducted raids on the outskirts of Damascus and expanded positions near the border, including setting up a new base on Eastern al-Ahmar hill in Quneitra.
On July 3, Syrian media also reported that Israeli special forces conducted an airborne raid in Yaafour, Rif Dimashq governorate, using three helicopters. The five-hour operation reportedly targeted a former Syrian Republican Guard site, according to sources cited by al-Mayadeen. Simultaneously, Israeli troops entered Rakhlah, Saysoun, and Ayn Dhakar in the Daraa and western Damascus countryside using armored vehicles.
The IDF’s 210th Division has operated extensively in recent weeks, including arrests near Mount Hermon and the “border triangle” where Israel, Syria, and Jordan converge. The military said these operations are aimed at preventing terrorist groups from establishing a foothold in proximity to Israel.
The Alma Research Center, which monitors threats in northern Israel, linked the arrested cell to known Iranian efforts to use Syrian nationals for operations against Israel. In November 2024, Israel arrested another suspect in the same area tied to Iranian intelligence activity.
