The IDF detained three Israeli activists from the "HaBashan Pioneers" settler movement after they breached the Syrian border in the Mount Hermon area on Tuesday, the military announced on Wednesday.
However, an earlier report from Army Radio said the activists were only in Syrian territory for several hours on Wednesday morning before being located by the IDF.
The activists were returned to Israeli territory and handed over to police, the IDF said, noting that the military "strongly condemns" such incidents as they disrupt operations and create a dangerous situation for all involved.
The IDF emphasized that police are required to pursue justice for the activists' "criminal offense" in order to disincentivize further similar actions.
The incident marks the fourth recent attempt (successful or unsuccessful) for the settler activist group to cross into Syria.
The HaBashan Pioneers have been trying to establish Jewish settlements in Syria, with several arrested in recent weeks for multiple separate border crossing attempts.
A recent unsuccessful border breach, following a reported drone targeting
Most recently, HaBashan Pioneers activists attempted to breach the Syrian border on July 22, with the IDF detaining the activists prior to successfully reaching the Syrian Hermon.
On July 21, five HaBashan Pioneers members were targeted by IDF Elbit Hermes 450 "Zik" drones in the Israel-Syria border area before being identified as Israelis, according to a KAN News report.