6 days ago
IDF elite unit 504 interrogations lead to bust of Iranian terror cell operating in southern Syria
The elite IDF unit 504 provided intelligence that led to the arrests of multiple members of an Iranian terrorist cell in southern Syria.
The IDF arrested members of an Iranian terrorist cell while operating in southern Syria following receiving special intelligence from interrogations of other Syrian operatives by the elite Unit 504, the military said on Wednesday.
Intelligence that Unit 504 ('the IDF's Mossad') acquired during interrogations of operatives it captured in Syria opened up the ability to plan and execute the nighttime operations, which led to the arrests.
In the past, before the Assad regime fell, the air force did kill Iranian operatives moving around in Syria as part of its often under-the-radar 'war between wars,' but it rarely was able to capture such Iranians, which would require more boots on the ground and for longer.
During the operation announced Wednesday, the IDF also located weapons in the areas where the terrorists were arrested, including several firearms and grenades.
One of the commanders in the field said they are 'working day and night to ensure that the residents of the Golan Heights can sleep in peace.
'We will not allow terrorist organizations or hostile elements to establish themselves in this area.'
On June 11, Unit 504's interrogations of other operatives in Syria led to the arrest of Hamas terrorists in Beit Jinn in Syria.
In January, the IDF released unusual footage that showed the interrogation of a Hamas terrorist by Unit 504 after he had been arrested at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza.
Anas Muhammad Faiz al-Sharif was captured during an operation by the IDF's 401st Brigade and Unit 504 near the hospital and transferred to Israel for questioning.
During his interrogation, Sharif outlined his role within Hamas and revealed how it uses the hospital as a base for operations.
He disclosed that hospital grounds were used to transport equipment and weapons for launching attacks against Israeli forces.
Also, in January, the IDF announced that it was greatly expanding Unit 504's human and financial resources to take on a much larger role on the various Palestinian, Lebanese, and Syrian fronts.
While Unit 504 was always operating in Lebanon and Syria, even in those countries, its footprint was smaller before the current war, given that those countries' borders were less porous.
Further, for more than a decade until the current war, Unit 504 had exited Gaza, leaving it entirely to the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) to recruit human spies.
However, immediately following October 7, 2023, Unit 504's Gaza Division was reestablished.
Typically, the Shin Bet handles a small number of strategic-level interrogations, such as a long-term project to locate an enemy leader or major threat, whereas Unit 504 might handle lower-level interrogations to assist with real-time tactical operations.
Yet, Unit 504's locating Iranians to arrest in Syria signals using them for even more strategic issues.
Earlier this week, the IDF's 210th Division arrested several suspects in southern Syria.
The division's forces were also deployed from the Mount Hermon area to the 'border triangle,' which refers to the borders of Israel, Syria, and Jordan.
In May, the division uncovered combat equipment, including several rocket shells and landmines in southern Syria, the military said.
