Syrian President al-Sharaa downplays Israel's concerns about Syria, "Israel is a country that is fighting ghosts"
Several clashes between Israeli forces and Syrian citizens were reported in southern Syria over the past few weeks as Syria marked a year since former dictator Bashar al-Assad was deposed.
About two weeks ago, three IDF soldiers were seriously injured, and at least nine Syrians were killed, and several more were injured after a firefight erupted in the town of Beit Jann, near the Syrian-Israeli border.
The Israeli troops reportedly entered the village to arrest two suspects for questioning concerning suspected terrorist activity. The two were allegedly involved in firing rockets towards Israel in the past. The forces were ambushed by members of the Jamaa Al-Islamiya (Islamic Group) terrorist group, the Lebanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, which operates in both Lebanon and Syria.