Israel, Russia, Syria & Turkey- Some interesting developments

I’m still mulling over this news- Israel killed numerous Syrians on Syrian territory- while taking losses of their own forces. Israel denies they were ambushed. Israel, wants to change tactics and just do more aerial bombing to avoid IDF losses, which kind of suggests they were ambushed in Syria. Then there are question about who actually ambushed the IDF forces.

France 24

At least 13 people were killed by Israeli forces in a southern Syrian village overnight, Syrian state television reported Friday, while the Israeli military said six soldiers were wounded in a clash with “terrorists” in the area. Syria’s foreign ministry condemned the Israeli incursion and called it a “war crime”.

“Syria denounces… the criminal aggression” of the Israeli army in the village of Beit Jin, the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that such acts aim to “ignite the region” in conflict.

Israel’s army said at least six soldiers were wounded overnight in an operation to arrest suspects from the Lebanese Islamist group Jamaa Islamiya.

“The suspects operated in the area of Beit Jin in southern Syria and advanced terror attacks against Israeli civilians,” Israel’s military said in a statement.

The Israeli military said its troops came under fire from militants and “responded with fire toward the terrorists, along with aerial assistance”.

Of course Israel has no business in and on Syrian territory..So, what to make of the news reported below?

Are Russian patrols redrawing Israel’s borders?

In recent months, Russia has reintroduced the idea of deploying Russian patrols as a buffer force between Syrian and Israeli troops. However, the Syrian government has not yet approved the Russian proposal, according to Israel’s Kan broadcaster on 18 November.

According to political researcher Ayman Eldessouki, statements and movements related to redeploying Russian patrols in southern Syria appear to be a test balloon to gauge negotiating positions. Israel’s repeated violations indicate its desire to maintain full initiative and rely solely on its own military and security apparatus to shape a security environment that guarantees long-term superiority and freedom of action.

Israel, he argues, will not be enthusiastic about any Russian deployment that conflicts with its security approach or restricts its operational mobility.

Russian political analyst Dmitry Bridzhe believes these patrols will remain limited in value unless they form part of a new Syrian framework that respects people’s sacrifices and restores the concept of a national state rather than temporary security arrangements. Russian vehicles near the border are not enough, he said, unless the ultimate objective is restoring a situation in which a national Syrian army protects the borders under a legitimate authority chosen by Syrians.

Are Russian patrolling present day or not? It’s not clear. If they are might they have notified someone of the Israeli incursion?

Israel weighs ‘Lebanon-style military operation in Syria after deadly Beit Jinn raid

According to Israel’s Channel 13, military officials are assessing the option “if it is found that one of [the Syrian government’s] personnel took part in the clashes” that erupted at dawn in southern Syria.

Channel 13 said the confrontation may prompt the army to change its usual operational approach, which relies on near-daily incursions, home raids and arrests.

The outlet claimed the military may reduce ground arrest missions and rely instead on aerial assassinations “to preserve the safety of its soldiers”, drawing a comparison with its operations in Lebanon.

The channel quoted Israeli officers as saying initial investigations suggested the incident was not a pre-planned ambush but a reaction by local residents. They said the army called in the air force after a military Hummer vehicle was disabled during the exchange.

Israeli forces “successfully” detained the two brothers, according to the report, before coming under fire from around 200 metres away. The gunfire halted the vehicle, prompting the military to deploy helicopters, attack aircraft, drones and artillery to evacuate wounded soldiers and “eliminate the attackers”.

It said that during the operation, “gunmen opened fire on the Israeli forces, which responded with fire”, and that “two officers and a reserve soldier were seriously wounded”, alongside additional moderate and light injuries. It said all suspects were arrested and “a number of gunmen” killed.

The Hebrew-language outlet Ynet reported that Israel had sent “harsh messages” to Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa after the incident and was preparing “a basket of potential responses”. Israeli security sources told the site they currently see no evidence of Syrian government involvement.

The Islamic Group denied the Israeli accusations, saying it was “surprised” by reports linking it to the clash and insisting it has “no activity outside Lebanon”. It condemned “the Israeli attack on the town and its peaceful residents” and said it adheres to Lebanon’s ceasefire commitments.

1/We have possible positioning of Russian forces on the Syria/Israel border?
2/Israel entering Syria claiming to be chasing terrorists associated with Lebanon, but, the group Israel blames denies involvement?
3/And then we have an interesting news report from Turkey’s Yeni Safak that looks to tie into all of this

Yeni Safak

Israeli media reveals Tel Aviv’s leadership remains silent after a botched Syria operation wounded six soldiers, acknowledging they cannot afford to provoke President Erdoğan. This unusual restraint signals Türkiye’s growing power to deter even regional military powers.

In a striking admission of Türkiye’s rising geopolitical weight, Israeli media reports that Tel Aviv’s leadership is maintaining deliberate silence following a failed military raid in Syria to avoid provoking President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The unusual quiet from typically vocal Israeli officials underscores how Türkiye’s strengthened regional position now serves as a deterrent against military adventurism.

More than 24 hours after Israeli commandos fell into a planned ambush in Syria’s Beit Jinn village, leaving six soldiers wounded including three in serious condition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz have broken with their normal practice of immediate public statements. According to Ynet news analysis, this silence reflects calculated restraint driven by concern over “angering President Erdoğan,” whose influence in Syria has dramatically expanded. Israeli officials reportedly fear that any escalation could draw Türkiye into direct confrontation.

Failed Operation Reveals Multiple Weaknesses

The botched raid itself, intended to detain members of the Islamic Group faction, has exposed significant vulnerabilities in Israeli military operations. Internal sources suggest the mission may have been compromised by intelligence leaks to Syrian forces, forcing soldiers to abandon their military vehicle during retreat. While the Israeli military denies any investigation into intelligence failures, the incident—which Syrian sources say killed 13 civilians including women and children—has proven diplomatically costly, forcing Israel into uncharacteristic public restraint toward Türkiye.

What if the incident was a preplanned ambush?
What if Turkish military/intel and irregular forces were a factor in the ambush of Israeli soldiers?
Definitely interesting- worth following to see how the situation between Turkey and Israel plays out.