The Israeli military announced on June 8 that it targeted a Hamas member in southern Syria, escalating cross-border tensions days after an earlier rare Israeli airstrike in the country.

The strike occurred in Mazraat Beit Jin, a rural area near the Golan Heights. Israel had earlier responded to projectile fire allegedly launched from Syria by targeting Syrian government weapons infrastructure. A group calling itself the "Martyr Muhammad Deif Brigades," referencing the late Hamas military chief killed in 2024, claimed responsibility for the attack on Israel—though Reuters could not independently verify this.

Israel Blames Syrian Government for Hosting Armed Groups

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz placed direct responsibility on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, warning Damascus that Israel would retaliate against any provocation from its territory. The Israeli military said it would continue operations to eliminate threats "regardless of where they operate."

Damascus denied that any shelling occurred from its territory and stated that Syria "does not pose a threat to any regional party."

Syria-Israel Direct Dialogue Amid Hostility

The airstrike comes amid tentative talks between Israel and Syria to de-escalate tensions—an unusual development given decades of hostility. However, the presence of Iranian proxies and Hamas operatives in southern Syria has increasingly drawn Israel’s attention, especially following intensified regional conflict after October 2023.