Recently, the town of Bayt Jann, which is located in the Jabal al-Shaykh (Mount Hermon) region of Damascus countryside near the borders with Lebanon and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, came to the forefront of international media attention because of an Israeli raid into the town that resulted in the killing of a number of locals and the wounding of a number of Israeli soldiers, who encountered local resistance. Israeli forces conducted the raid on the basis of dismantling an ‘Islamic Group’ and/or Hamas cell that was plotting to attack Israel. For its part, Lebanon’s Islamic Group (al-Jama‘a al-Islamiya) has denied operating outside Lebanon and claims to adhere to the ceasefire negotiated between Israel and Lebanon following Hezbollah’s defeat in last year’s war.
It was predictable that these incursions bore the risk of generating at least some local armed resistance.
One of the main ironies of the raid is that Bayt Jann was a place where insurgents backed by Israel operated against the Assad regime: in particular, ‘Moro’ (Iyad Kamal), the commander of the Omar bin al-Khattab Brigade, received Israeli backing. He subsequently did ‘taswiya’ (regularisation of status) when the regime reimposed its control and became part of a local holding force that was affiliated with the military intelligence but was eventually dismantled by the regime. ‘Moro’ was assassinated in 2022.
In general, the raid is emblematic of Israel’s approach to the new Syrian government that has been too hostile from the outset. Even as the new government has shown it is not interested in a confrontation and would like to reach a security agreement with Israel, the Israeli approach has been one of launching incursions based on pre-empting any possible threats. However, it was predictable that these incursions bore the risk of generating at least some local armed resistance.
Below is a brief interview with one Abu Ubayda al-Janani, who is from Bayt Jann, regarding the Israeli raid and his reaction to it.
Q: Have most of those displaced returned to Bayt Jann following the attack?
A: None of the displaced have returned. Because among them are those whose homes have been destroyed, and there are women and children [among the displaced].
Q: What’s your response to the Israeli discourse about the presence of ‘Hamas’ or ‘the Islamic Group’ in the area?
A: My response to Israel’s claims is that any attack on us again and none of them will get out alive. The Israeli media say there are contingents belonging to Hamas or another faction. We are honoured to be among Hamas’ soldiers. We defended the religion of Muhammad (God’s peace and blessings be upon him) and our honour and land. We came out to support God and His Messenger.
Q: Is it true some of those who resisted the attack were previously part of Moro’s group?
A: Half of Bayt Jann and Mazra‘at Bayt Jann were affiliated with the Omar bin al-Khattab (may God be pleased with him) brigade led by Moro, while the other half were affiliated with Jabal al-Shaykh Brigades led by Abu Firas Hamuda.
Q: So surely they were among those who resisted the Israeli attack?
A: Yes, they resisted the Israeli attack.
Q: It has been said that the ‘martyr’ Hasan al-Sa‘adi was part of Moro’s group. I don’t know if you have knowledge of the matter.
A: The martyr Hasan al-Sa‘adi was with Moro.
Q: What’s your message to the Israelis and the international community?
A: My message to Israel: we will wipe it out by the permission of God. My message to the international community: God’s curse be upon them all. We- Bayt Jann- do not want the international community to stand with us. God is with us. The international community should stand with Gaza- this would console us and make us happy.
Published originally on December 1, 2025.
