BBC Crew Detained and Intimidated by Israeli Forces in Southern Syria

A BBC Arabic team was detained at gunpoint by Israeli forces while attempting to film near the Syrian territory seized by Israel. After a lengthy and intimidating process, they were released with their equipment confiscated, facing threats against future reporting.

On May 9, a team of BBC Arabic journalists found themselves in a perilous situation while reporting from southern Syria. The crew, consisting of seven members— British journalist Feras Kilani and Iraqi and Syrian colleagues—set out from Damascus with the intent to film near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Their mission took a dangerous turn when they arrived at an unguarded checkpoint close to the city of Quneitra, a strategic area long under Israeli control since the 1974 disengagement.

As the crew began their filming near a United Nations observation point, they were approached by Israeli soldiers who quickly surrounded them, brandishing their rifles and demanding that they place their camera aside. Despite attempts to assert their identity as members of the BBC, the situation escalated, resulting in confiscation of their equipment and a two-hour detention while soldiers reviewed their footage.

Kilani was subsequently separated from his team and taken into a room for questioning, subjected to invasive searches while being interrogated about the crew’s intentions. Meanwhile, his colleagues experienced further intimidation as they were blindfolded and restrained during the same process.

After nearly seven hours of detainment, the crew was released in a rural area outside Quneitra with no phones, internet, or clear knowledge of their location. Fortunately, they were able to find their way back to Damascus after receiving assistance from local villagers who warned them of the potential dangers ahead.

The BBC has lodged an official complaint regarding the incident to the Israeli military but has yet to receive a response, raising concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists operating in conflict zones.