40 Israelis Arrested After Illegally Crossing Into Syria
Around 40 Israeli citizens were arrested after illegally crossing into Syria on Independence Day, prompting strong condemnation from the IDF.
Jerusalem, 22 April, 2026 (TPS-IL) — As Israel celebrates its Independence Day today, on Wednesday afternoon about 40 Israeli citizens gathered near the border fence with Syria and, after a few minutes, they crossed hundreds of meters into Syrian territory.
The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) said that one of its units operating in the area returned all the citizens to the country and arrested them.
The citizens who were arrested were transferred to the Israel Police for possible criminal procedures.
The IDF said it “strongly condemns the incident” and emphasized that this is a “serious incident that constitutes a criminal offense that endangers civilians and IDF forces.”
No details as to who the people in question were provided by the IDF.
