A group of settlers who crossed the border from Israel into southern Syria in an attempt to establish new settlements have been apprehended and returned by the Israeli military.
On Thursday, some 13 settlers belonging to a group called the "Pioneers of the Bashan" cut through the border fence in two locations using angle grinders and drove into Syria with the aim of settling there.
Five of the group breached the border in the Mount Hermon area, and another eight near the Syrian village of Bir Ajam in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
The Israeli military said in a statement that troops "rushed to the two locations, and shortly afterward the civilians were found" and that some "clashed" with the soldiers.
It confirmed that all of the suspects were "safely returned to Israeli territory under IDF escort", adding that the military "strongly condemns the incident and emphasises that it is a grave incident constituting a criminal offence" endangering both civilians and Israeli soldiers.
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