The soldier had been attacked during a counterterrorism operation in Syria
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Surgeons at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa managed to save the life of an Israeli soldier who was seriously wounded during a counterterrorism operation in Syria.
The soldier arrived in a critical condition with a bullet lodged in his heart, after a clash with armed men in the south of the neighboring country.
The wounded man is one of two soldiers who were evacuated from the battlefield in critical condition and who are now stable in the intensive care unit.
In total, six soldiers were wounded during the brief clash, which occurred while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were conducting an operation to detain members of a terrorist group in the Syrian village of Beit Jinn, just seven kilometers (4.35 miles) from the border.
General Eyal Zamir visits the wounded soldier
Both critical soldiers were airlifted directly to Rambam by military helicopter and underwent emergency surgeries to treat potentially fatal gunshot wounds. One of them was hit in the chest; the bullet penetrated his bulletproof vest and became embedded inside his heart.
"The surgery was complex and challenging and included opening the chest both from the side and from the center to stop the bleeding," explained Professor Gil Bolotin, director of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. The bullet passed through the cardiac septum, the wall that separates the chambers of the heart, and the medical team unanimously decided to leave it in place for now.
"We might need another surgery or to remove it via catheterization, and there's also a possibility it will remain where it is. Today, he is already awake and communicating", Bolotin noted.
The soldiers were wounded in the early hours of Friday, during an Israeli operation inside Syrian territory aimed at detaining two members of the al-Jama'a al-Islamiyya terrorist group, allegedly involved in attack plans against Israel and previously responsible for rocket launches.
The suspects—two brothers—were arrested while they slept. As the troops withdrew, they were attacked by unidentified assailants, which triggered an exchange of fire in which the Israeli Air Force provided support with helicopters, drones, and precision strikes.
Meanwhile, Israel acted against individuals linked to terrorism, the Syrian regime condemned the operation and accused the IDF of "criminal aggression," ignoring the context of defense against direct threats.
Since late 2023, the IDF has maintained nine operational posts in southern Syria—mainly in the buffer zone monitored by the UN—with the aim of preventing advanced weapons from reaching hostile groups.
The operations, which extend up to 15 kilometers (9.32 miles) inside Syrian territory, seek to protect Israeli security in a region marked by instability and the growing presence of extremist organizations.
