Alleged Iranian terror operative detained in IDF raid in Syria
The Israel Defense Forces announced Sunday that it carried out a ground raid in Syria "in recent months" and detained a Syrian citizen they allege was working for Iran.
The IDF claimed Ali Soleiman al-Assi was monitoring IDF troops on the border to plan terror attacks.
The raid in Syria is believed to mark the first time Israeli troops have been on the ground in Syria during the recent conflict. Israel has bombed Syria from the air on numerous occasions.
There has been no confirmation or comment from Syria or Iran on the IDF action in Syria.
In a statement Sunday, the IDF said its forces detained an Iranian terror operative in the special operation in Syria.
"During an intelligence-based, special operation in Syrian territory that took place in recent months, soldiers of the Egoz Unit together with field interrogators from Unit 504, led by the 210th Division, detained an Iranian terror network operative in Syria," the IDF said in a statement.
The IDF said al-Assi is a Syrian citizen who lives in the area of Saida in southern Syria.
"His activities included gathering intelligence on IDF troops in the border area for future terror activity of the network," the IDF alleged.
Al-Assi had been under IDF surveillance, Israeli officials said. He was taken to Israel to undergo interrogation, the IDF said.
-ABC News' Dana Savir