Israeli forces fire on children in Syrian village

Israeli military forces fired on a residential area in the Syrian village of Al‑Tanf on Thursday, striking several children who were playing outside their homes. According to local health officials, three children were injured, with two requiring hospitalization for gunshot wounds and one treated on site for minor injuries. The incident occurred amid ongoing cross‑border tensions between Israel and Iran‑backed militias operating in the Syrian desert, where Israeli air and ground operations have been conducted regularly to counter perceived security threats.

The Syrian Ministry of Health confirmed the injuries and called for an investigation, while the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) expressed concern over the impact of the hostilities on civilians, especially minors. Israeli military spokespeople declined to comment on the specific incident, stating that operations in the region are aimed at neutralizing hostile elements. The episode adds to a series of recent clashes in the border zone, prompting renewed calls from international observers for restraint and adherence to international humanitarian law.