ALBAWABA - Israeli military launches probe after Syrian civilians reportedly find Israeli military smartphone with sensitive operational technology following withdrawal from Tal al-Maghr area in western Daraa countryside, drawing attention on both sides of border.
Images released by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) after Israeli troops withdrew from an incursion into southern Syria showed the device on the ground. Originally believed to be an abandoned phone, it quickly became the focus of intense media attention regarding its alleged military importance.
The device was identified by Israeli media as the "Olar" system, a military-grade smartphone that the Israeli army introduced in recent years to replace paper maps. The device reportedly includes encrypted digital maps, battlefield navigation tools and tactical command systems used by frontline forces during military operations, all working without an internet connection to cut down on cybersecurity risks.
“The Israeli military confirmed the incident and said the loss of the device is being investigated. Officials said the matter was being handled through the appropriate security channels, but did not say whether any classified information had been compromised.
Israeli media reports said the phone was lost in a hasty withdrawal after Israeli troops came under pressure from crowds of Syrian civilians near Tal Kudna. One Israeli reservist told local media one soldier dropped the device as forces pulled back amid the confusion. The military commanders then reportedly initiated remote security procedures to lock the device to prevent any potential intelligence leak.
The attack comes as Israeli military strikes in southern Syria continue. Israeli forces last week pushed into parts of western Daraa with armored vehicles and sniper units, Syrian reports said, while Israel said the operations targeted armed militants operating within what it describes as a security zone.
Damascus has condemned the repeated incursions, accusing Israel of violating Syrian sovereignty and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement through repeated military operations, shelling, arrests and destruction of civilian property and agricultural land.
The discovery of the military device adds a new dimension to the already tense situation in southern Syria and raises questions about operational security given the ongoing cross-border military activity.
