IDF admits it was unprepared for Syria border chaos, says it’s learning lessons

By Emanuel Fabian

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17 July 2025, 6:58 pm

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Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Druze wait near the border fence in the Golan Heights village of Majdal Shams, as Syrian Druze who had crossed over the day before cross back to return to Syria, on July 17, 2025. (Jalaa MAREY / AFP)

IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, in a press conference, acknowledges that the military was unprepared to handle the chaos on the Syrian border in recent days, as around 1,000 Druze crossed into Syria and dozens of Syrian Druze entered Israel.

“We were not prepared for thousands of Israeli citizens who reached the border and tried to pass it. We are learning lessons,” he says.

Asked about recent strikes that caused civilian casualties, including at the Holy Family church in Gaza City, Defrin says: “The IDF is doing everything to avoid harm to civilians. Each case is investigated in depth.”