The man detained by the Israel Defense Forces has been identified as Ali Soleiman al-Assi, a Syrian citizen from Saida in the south of the country. Israel conducted a ground operation in Syria to capture him, citing his role as an Iranian operative gathering intelligence on Israeli troops near the border. The IDF stated that the operation took place in recent months but did not specify the exact timing.
According to the Israeli military, the capture of al-Assi was a part of a special operation that prevented a future attack and exposed the operational methods of Iranian terror networks near the Golan Heights. After months of surveillance, al-Assi was brought to Israel for further investigation.
Footage released by the IDF showed soldiers seizing al-Assi in a building. This marks the first time during the current conflict that Israel has revealed its ground operation in Syria. While Damascus has not confirmed the incursion, reports suggest that Israel conducted a kidnapping operation in southern Syria over the summer.
Israel has carried out numerous airstrikes in Syria targeting Hezbollah members and Iranian officials. The country aims to prevent Iranian entrenchment in Syria, which serves as a key route for Iran to supply weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the importance of preventing Hezbollah from rearming through Iranian weapons transferred via Syria during a visit to the Lebanon border. Israeli strikes in Lebanon have resulted in casualties, while Hezbollah rockets have claimed lives in Israel.
Israeli forces are also engaged in offensive operations in Gaza against Hamas fighters. With the expansion of ground operations into Syria, Israeli troops are now operating in Lebanon, Iran, Syria, and Gaza.
This information is based on reports from The Associated Press and Reuters. Please rewrite this sentence.
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