Recently Formed Militia, Formidable In Might – Islamic Resistance Front In Syria, Claims Second Attack On IDF Forces In Southern Syria

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February 2, 2025

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In several posts between January 31 and February 1, 2025, on its Telegram channel, the recently-formed Formidable in Might – Islamic Resistance Front in Syria militia claimed responsibility for an attack on soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Quneitra area in southern Syria. A week before, it claimed responsibility for the interception of an IDF drone in the same area.[1] Around the same time, additional Telegram channels affiliated with the Syrian resistance also issued claims of responsibility for the attack. The IDF Spokesman confirmed that "gunfire was identified" in the area where IDF forces were operating on Syrian territory, but stated that no casualties resulted from the incident.[2]

The following is a review of the messages posted between January 31 and February 1, 2025, by the new Formidable in Might – Islamic Resistance Front in Syria militia on its Telegram channel, and messages posted on other Telegram channels affiliated with the Syrian resistance:

On January 31, on its Telegram channel, the recently-formed militia, Formidable in Might – Islamic Resistance Front in Syria, posted a statement in which it claimed responsibility for an attack on the same day, carried out with "appropriate weapons," against "the Zionist forces invading the village of Trinjeh, north of Quneitra." The militia added that "the Zionist army" suffered casualties and the members of the resistance returned to their positions.[3]

About an hour later, the militia shared another post in which it stated that the exchange of fire was ongoing between the members of the resistance and the invading forces at Trinjeh village. The group also shared a photograph of what appears to be a flare, which it claims was launched by the IDF in an effort to locate members of the resistance.[4]

On February 1, the militia shared a third post in which it stated that the shooting in the area had stopped and the forces that had invaded Trinjeh village had withdrawn. The post also claimed that two "defenseless civilians" were arrested (apparently by the IDF) and that the members of the resistance had returned to their positions, unharmed.[5]

In addition to the messages posted by the new militia, other Telegram channels affiliated with the Syrian resistance also posted reports of attacks by Israeli forces in the Quneitra area, as follow:

On February 1, 2025, a Telegram channel named The Syrian Resistance posted a claim of responsibility for an attack on forces of "the Israeli occupation army" in the Quneitra area, noting that it was the first time that its members had attacked Israeli forces, and adding that they had forced the IDF soldiers to withdraw from the area. Addressing Israel directly, the channel declared, "Even if you have made an agreement with [President Ahmed Al-Sharaa aka Abu Muhammad] Al-Joulani, the collaborator and your protégé, and he has opened the gates for you, we will not permit you to occupy our land and we will lie in wait for you and Al-Joulani's gangs with precise ambushes and surprise attacks."[6]

Also on February 1, on its Telegram channel, The Syrian Popular Resistance issued a claim of responsibility for the same attack on Israeli forces that was claimed by the two other groups, asserting that it was carried out spontaneously, "as an immediate response and an independent decision on the ground." The same post contained a message to "the Zionist enemy" stating that, "The resistance doesn’t wait for instructions. It operates in blood and fury. Wherever you move, you will encounter men willing to exact revenge… The occupation will know no peace on this sacred land."[7]

After a short time, The Syrian Popular Resistance Telegram channel posted another statement in which it wrote that the attack on the IDF referred to in the same day’s post was carried out "to defend the residents of the region, their land, and their honor," following an attack on them by the enemy.[8]

 

 

[2] Telegram, January 31, 2025.

[3] Telegram, January 31, 2025.

[4] Telegram, January 31, 2025.

[5] Telegram, February 1, 2025.

[6] Telegram, January 31, 2025.

[7] Telegram, January 31, 2025.

[8] Telegram, February 1, 2025.


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