Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya terrorists who were arrested after operating in southern Syria admitted to ties with Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, during an interrogation, a source told Israel's public broadcaster KAN News on Saturday.
The detainees also admitted to receiving funding from these sources in order to arm themselves to carry out attacks against Israel.
Terrorists from the group, largely based in Lebanon, published a denial that the group is operating in Syria.
This follows soldiers of the IDF's 55th Brigade killing three members of the terror organization in Beit Jen in southern Syria in an overnight operation that the military confirmed on Friday.
The group has been involved in several attacks against Israel since the beginning of the war, working alongside Hamas in Lebanon and Syria, and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Thirteen people were reportedly killed and 24 reportedly injured during the operation, according to Syrian state media.
The terror group laid an ambush for the IDF following their withdrawal after conducting the operation.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's general intelligence orchestrated the ambush as well as earlier attacks against the Druze communities, KAN reported on Friday, citing informed sources.
Israel is attempting to “drag” Damascus into a confrontation through multiple provocations, a senior Syrian intelligence official, Hamza al-Mustafa, claimed on Saturday, Al Jazeera reported.
“Israel is miscalculating when it thinks it can impose facts on the ground,” he claimed. “We are not ashamed to say that we are not in a position of strength, especially after liberation, and we want to focus on rebuilding the country.
“We will not be a launching pad for threatening neighboring countries, but we will spare no means to confront and deter Israeli aggression.”
In an effort to stabilize the region, the US is considering sending several envoys, including Morgan Ortagus, KAN noted.
Additionally, Israel insists that the IDF will not withdraw from Mount Hermon and other points along the Israel-Syria border without a comprehensive agreement with Damascus.
Hamas, PIJ terrorists aiming to build terror infrastructure, presence in Syria
Hamas terrorists are seeking to establish a military presence in Syria and are aiding Hezbollah in Lebanon, KAN reported on Wednesday.
Hamas sees Syria as a suitable base for terror activity and members of the Damascus government, although not necessarily Sharaa, are allowing them to build a military presence in the country, the broadcaster added.
At the same time, the terror group is aiding Hezbollah's Radwan Force to strengthen its position in southern Lebanon, significantly strengthening it, including assigning companies of terror operatives to aid Hezbollah in expanding its presence and rebuilding its supply of rockets.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror organization has started to build a growing military presence in Syria, according to a Wednesday report from KAN.
This reportedly occurs with Syria's full awareness of the PIJ’s efforts and comes as Hamas bolsters its strength in Lebanon through increased cooperation with Hezbollah.
KAN reported that the PIJ has expanded the capabilities of its military wing, the al-Quds Brigades, within Syria in recent weeks, noting a particular uptick in activity in the Palestinian refugee camps near Damascus.
Yonah Jeremy Bob, Miriam Sela-Eitam, and Danielle Greyman-Kennard contributed to this report.