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Syrian Man with Disabilities Killed During Israeli Raid in Southern Syria
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Fatal Shooting in Jamla Village
During an overnight operation in the Syrian village of Jamla, located about two kilometers inside an Israeli-controlled buffer zone, Israeli soldiers shot and killed Muath Salama al-Baeer, a civilian who had Down syndrome. State-run Syrian news agency SANA described the victim as a “civilian with a disability” killed by “Israeli occupation forces.” Residents said al-Baeer was unarmed, lived with his sisters after their parents’ deaths, and was shot while not resisting the troops. He was buried in the village later that day.
Context of Israeli Operations in Southern Syria
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have maintained nine posts inside southern Syria, most of them within a United Nations-patrolled buffer zone created by the 1974 disengagement agreement. The IDF regularly conducts raids up to roughly 15 kilometers inside Syrian territory, stating the aim is to seize weapons that could threaten Israel if acquired by hostile groups. Israeli artillery shelling of nearby areas, such as the outskirts of the town of Abdin, is described as a routine occurrence.
Statements from Involved Parties
The IDF said its troops were operating in the “security zone in southern Syria” and that they identified a suspect approaching them, prompting a “suspect arrest procedure.” According to the IDF, the individual continued to approach, leading soldiers to fire in order to “eliminate the threat.” Defense Minister Israel Katz affirmed that Israeli forces will remain in the security zone for as long as the government believes jihadist threats persist along the border.
Syrian Reaction and Calls for Action
Jamla resident Adnan al-Masri criticized the practice of Israeli forces entering homes at night without permission and questioned why a non-combatant with special needs was killed. Lawyer and activist Tarek al-Khalil urged Syrian authorities to pursue legal action against Israel in international courts. Some local voices called for stronger defensive measures, though Syrian officials have not indicated any change in policy.
Ongoing Military Presence and Outlook
The IDF’s continued deployment in southern Syria, supported by statements from senior officials, suggests the security zone will remain active. Meanwhile, the incident has heightened tensions in the buffer area, with Syrian authorities and residents demanding accountability while Israeli officials maintain that their operations target security threats rather than civilians.