IDF Soldier Describes Humiliation and Chaos During Majdal Shams Fence Breach
A reservist says troops were barred from using force amid violent incidents, including attempted weapon grabs, vehicle takeovers, and shots fired during a protest near Majdal Shams.
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An anonymous soldier (Y) has shared a personal account of the chaotic events surrounding the breach of the border fence near Majdal Shams on July 16, 2025. The soldier described a situation marked by restrictive orders, humiliation, and failure to fulfill their defense mission amid intense pressure from Druze demonstrators on both sides of the Israel-Syria border.
In a message directed to media personality Yinon Magal, Y detailed the instructions received from the brigade commander, relayed through the division commander from the Chief of Staff. Soldiers were explicitly forbidden from using any force to prevent the fence breach, limited to standing near the fence and using vehicles to block access. “We were told we couldn’t even fire warning shots, not even if someone tried to take our weapons,” Y wrote. The overriding directive was to prioritize preventing injuries, a stance that left the battalion feeling powerless.
The breach occurred as hundreds of Israeli Druze crossed into Syria near the Druze village of Hader, close to Majdal Shams, to support their Syrian Druze kin amid reported violence in Sweida. Simultaneously, Syrian Druze attempted to cross into Israel, creating chaotic scenes along the border. Yosef recounted several alarming incidents during the breach:
- Druze demonstrators threatened to kill a soldier.
- Protesters entered a military vehicle, danced on its roof, and cursed an officer who requested they stop.
- A soldier was lightly injured while attempting to block Syrian Druze from entering Israel.
- A soldier’s phone was taken in Syria and later returned on Israeli soil.
- Attempts were made to snatch a weapon from a soldier during a simultaneous breach from Syria.
- Shots were fired into the air by demonstrators above soldiers’ heads, in the presence of senior commanders, with no change in orders.
Y expressed deep frustration, noting that the fence was “wide open” due to pressure from Israeli Druze, leaving the battalion unable to fulfill its mission. “The entire platoon and battalion are deeply pained by the humiliation we experienced,” he wrote, emphasizing the emotional toll after a grueling 100-day reserve tour, with some soldiers accumulating 400 reserve days. The sentiment was echoed by his platoon commander and fellow soldiers.
The events followed reports of heavy IDF airstrikes in Damascus and Sweida, targeting Syrian regime forces amid clashes with Druze militias in southern Syria. The IDF has since reinforced its presence in the Golan Heights, deploying additional units from the Border Police and Golani Brigade to prevent further unauthorized crossings. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Israeli Druze to refrain from crossing the border, citing risks to their safety and interference with IDF operations.
NOTE: This report is based on a soldier’s personal account to Yinon Magal and has not been independently verified by official IDF statements.
Editor's note: After covering the Sweida massacres over the last two days, I struggled to understand why the IDF did not use force to protect our borders. But given this report and the tensions with the Druze, minimizing Druze casualties was of the upmost importance. It's also important to remember that not all Druze like Israel or the IDF, especially those who live close to the border, many of whom still think of themselves as Syrians.