UN human rights office 'alarmed' by reports of civilian casualties in Israeli incursion near Damascus
Rights office calls for independent investigations as it works to verify details, spokesperson tells Anadolu
Residents of Beit Jin, a town in Syria’s southern Rif Dimashq province, where 13 people were killed in an Israeli military raid, pay condolence visits to the families of those who lost their lives in Damascus, Syria on November 28, 2025.
GENEVA
The UN human rights office said on Friday that it is "alarmed" by reports that an Israeli ground operation in the town of Beit Jinn, near the capital Damascus, resulted in multiple civilian casualties, including women and children.
In comments shared with Anadolu, UN human rights office spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said the office is "working to verify the reported casualties and other human rights impacts of this operation," which took place on Friday morning.
"We are alarmed by reports of multiple civilian casualties, including children and women, as a result of an Israeli military ground operation in the town of Beit Jinn, near Damascus, on Friday morning," Al-Kheetan said.
He noted that the reports came after "many reported incursions that the Israeli military has carried out inside Syria’s territory since December (2024)," when the Assad regime was overthrown.
The rights office called for accountability in connection with the latest incident and previous operations.
"We call for independent and prompt investigations into this incident and all alleged violations, and for those responsible to be held to account," Al-Kheetan said.
At least 13 people were killed, including women and children, and as many were wounded early Friday in the Israeli attack on the town of Beit Jinn and the road leading to it in a rural area near Damascus, according to official Syrian media.
The Israeli army said in a statement that six Israeli soldiers were injured, including three in critical condition, during the operation.
Syria condemned Friday's raid on the town of Beit Jinn as a "criminal assault," saying the incursion and subsequent airstrikes amounted to a war crime.
