The action occurred during an Israeli attempt to enforce its claimed sovereignty over the demilitarized zone along the Syrian border.

[1] According to the 1949 armistice agreement between Israel and Syria, it was determined that a string of villages, including Al-Hamma, Nuqeib, Al-Samra in the Tiberias Subdistrict, and Kirad al-Baqqara and Kirad al-Ghannama further north in the Safad Subdistrict, would be included the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between Israel and Syria.

[2] The Israeli military thought that the inhabitants of the DMZ remained loyal to Syria and they suspected them of helping Syrian intelligence.

[6] According to the Syrian complaint to the Israel–Syria Mixed Armistice Commission, Israel sent a detachment of police to Al-Hamma as part of a preconceived plan to occupy the entire DMZ.

[10] The following day, four Israel planes bombed the police station at Al-Hamma and a Syrian positions at Al Hadid.