Israel Detains Hamas Members in Syria  06/12 06:34

   

   DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) -- Israeli forces conducted an operation in southern 
Syria to detain several members of Hamas, the military said Thursday.

   Syria TV, a local station, reported that a force of about 100 Israeli troops 
stormed the southern Syrian village of Beit Jin near the border with Lebanon 
and called the names of several people through loud speakers who were detained. 
Syria TV said one person was shot dead by the Israeli force.

   The Israeli military said that the detained people were Hamas members who 
were planning attacks against Israel, and that they were taken to Israel for 
questioning, adding that its forces also found weapons in the area. The 
detained people were not identified.

   Since the fall of President Bashar Assad 's government in early December, 
Israeli forces have moved into several areas in southern Syria and conducted 
hundreds of airstrikes throughout the country, destroying much of the assets of 
the Syrian army.

   The claim that the detainees were Hamas members could not be independently 
verified. There was no immediate comment from Hamas or Syrian authorities.

   During a visit to France last month, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said 
that his country is holding indirect talks with Israel to prevent hostilities 
from getting out of control.