In a notable move within the covert and overt conflict between Israel and Iran on Syrian territory, the Israel Defense Forces announced the execution of a special operation in southern Syria, resulting in the capture of an Iranian-affiliated “saboteur” cell operating in the areas of Oum al-Luqes and Ain al-Basali near the Golan Heights.

According to the Israeli statement, units from the 474th Brigade of the 210th Division, in cooperation with Unit 504 responsible for field investigations and human intelligence, carried out a precise nighttime operation based on intelligence gathered in recent weeks. The operation led to the apprehension of several members of the Iranian cell and the seizure of weapons and hand grenades.

All of the arrested members include Malik Ahmed Salem Ahmed and Salem Mustafa Salem Ahmed. Additionally, an individual named Mohamed Mohsen Ahmed remains detained by Israel for the time being. The two individuals, Malik Ahmed Salem Ahmed and Salem Mustafa Salem Ahmed, were released, but not because they are innocent—they were simply interrogated. They are individuals sent by Iran to execute missions, even at the risk of death.

The primary aim of the operation was to search for weapons, gather information, and intimidate. After interrogation, they were released—despite the fact that they had been working with Iran, and following the fall of the regime and the decline of Iran and Hezbollah’s influence and presence in the region, their cooperation with Iran was halted until this arrest.

What is striking about this operation is that it took place in southern Syria, an area that for years has been an arena of complex conflict involving Israel, Iran, and the Syrian regime, witnessing increased activity by Iran-backed militias trying to assert their presence near ceasefire lines.  

The operation also comes in the context of ongoing Israeli military escalation against Iran’s positioning in Syria. While Israel increased its airstrikes over the past years, the current phase appears to shift toward a strategy of specialized ground operations and reliance on field intelligence penetration.

This operation carries several strategic implications:  
Israel’s intelligence superiority: It indicates Israel’s capability to infiltrate Iranian networks operating inside Syria, not just through aerial surveillance but also through human sources on the ground.  
Iran’s message: The operation is a direct warning to the militias that activity near the Golan will not pass without response, even if it involves small cells or smuggling weapons.  
A tactical shift in Israeli strategy: Moving from air strikes to targeted field operations, Israel likely seeks to increase pressure and weaken local influence by catching cells on the ground.

Why are these operations not portrayed as “serving” the new Syrian government or as helping reduce Iranian influence?  
In Syrian political culture, Israel is considered the traditional enemy.  
Therefore, even if Israel strikes Iranian militias or Hezbollah, it is difficult for Syrian media, whether official or independent, to openly claim that “Israel helps the Syrian people” or “contributes to eliminating Iranian influence,” because such statements would be seen as a form of “whitewashing” Israel before public opinion.  
If the official media spoke openly about Israel helping to eliminate Iranian militias, it would immediately be labeled as normalization or cooperation with Israel—an accusation that could destroy the credibility of any side within the Syrian and Arab street.  
Many influential forces and media outlets supported by countries like Turkey, Qatar, and European nations avoid narratives that portray Israel as an implicit ally.  
Thus, there is a deliberate silence around this type of event to prevent embarrassment for these forces before their regional backers.  
Even if these groups previously collaborated with Iranian militias, the media cannot easily discern:  
Did these groups actually separate from the regime?  
Are they now truly working against Iran?  
Or are they still connected to regime security agencies?  
Therefore, it’s difficult to portray the operation as “serving” any side unless a clear political entity states that it is directly confronting Iranian militias in the south.

The official Syrian media ignores the operation and fears adopting an Israeli narrative, but at the same time, no strong media institution has the capacity to produce a credible alternative narrative based on field investigations stating, “These groups were working with Iran, and we are currently confronting them.”  

For more than five decades, the image of Israel as an eternal enemy has been deeply ingrained in the Syrian national consciousness, whether through official media, nationalist, leftist, or even Islamic rhetoric.  

This heavy accumulation made it difficult for any Syrian side to redefine its relationship with Israel or speak about a temporary convergence of interests, even on issues related to fighting Iranian influence, which threatens Syria’s true independence.  

What is striking is the silence of the local community in the area regarding these arrests, which can be interpreted in several ways:  
Ignorance of the group's background: Perhaps many residents of the area were unaware of these individuals’ connections with Iran or their possession of weapons.  
Silent support for the previous regime and its allies (including Iran): There is a possibility that part of the community still harbors loyalty to the former regime, or at least does not consider Iran an enemy, which makes them indifferent to opposing such arrests.  

Levant: Abdullah Al-Binayah