According to Axios, Israeli airstrikes on Syria have increased since Hamas’s Operation Protective Edge on Israel on October 7, with cross-border fire between Hezbollah and Israel intensifying, but “Sunday’s raid was the first ground operation by the Israeli military in recent years against Iranian targets in Syria.”
According to the news website, “the destruction of the factory represents a major blow to Iran and Hezbollah’s efforts to produce medium-range precision missiles on Syrian territory.”
“The Israeli government has been unusually silent on the matter and has not claimed responsibility so as not to provoke retaliation from Syria, Iran or Hezbollah,” the sources told Axios.
Syrian media reported that the Israeli Air Force carried out intensive air strikes on Sunday night in several areas in western Syria, including near the city of Masyaf, close to the border with Lebanon.
On Wednesday, some media outlets reported that “the airstrikes were a cover for an Israeli ground operation in Masyaf.”
Three sources familiar with the operation confirmed to Axios that “the IDF’s elite unit, Sayeret Matkal, carried out the raid and destroyed the facility.”
Two sources said that Israel “informed the Biden administration in advance of the sensitive operation and the United States did not oppose it.” The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
A source explained that “the Israeli special unit surprised the Syrian guards at the facility and killed several of them during the raid, but no Iranian or Hezbollah gunman was harmed.”
Two sources indicated that “the special forces used explosives they brought with them to blow up the underground facility, including the advanced machinery, from the inside.”
A source pointed out that “the air strikes were aimed at preventing the Syrian army from sending reinforcements to the area.”
Axios quoted two sources with direct knowledge of the matter as saying that “the Iranians began building the underground facility in coordination with Hezbollah and Syria in 2018 after a series of Israeli airstrikes destroyed most of Iran’s missile production infrastructure in Syria.”
According to the sources, “the Iranians decided to build an underground factory deep in a mountain in Masyaf because it would be immune to Israeli air strikes.”
The two sources claimed that “the Iranian plan was to produce precision missiles in this protected facility near the border with Lebanon so that the delivery to Hezbollah in Lebanon could be done quickly and with minimal risk from Israeli airstrikes.” “Israeli intelligence discovered the construction process and monitored it for more than five years under the code name: Deep Layer.”
One of the sources said, “The Israelis realized that they would not be able to destroy the facility with an air strike and would need a ground operation.”
One of the sources added that “the Israeli army considered carrying out the operation at least twice in recent years, but it was not approved due to the high risks.”
In a related context, an Iranian security source denied the circulating news about the loss of Iranians in Syria, stressing that Israel’s claims about capturing two Iranian officers in the Masyaf region in Syria are nothing but false claims, according to the Tasnim Agency.
Last Monday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that Tehran does not confirm what is being circulated about targeting an Iranian-linked center in Masyaf, central Syria.
Source: Axios + RT
#Axios #Sundays #Israeli #raid #ground #operation #carried #Israeli #forces #Iranian #targets #Syria
2024-09-14 22:50:24
What are the implications of Israel’s ground operation against Iranian targets in Syria for regional security?
Table of Contents
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Title: Israel Launches Rare Ground Operation Against Iranian Targets in Syria
Meta Description: Israel conducts a rare ground operation against Iranian targets in Syria, destroying a precision missile factory in a major blow to Iran and Hezbollah’s efforts.
Keywords: Israel, Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, airstrikes, ground operation, precision missiles, missile factory, Israeli military, Sayeret Matkal, Operation Protective Edge.
Introduction
In a rare and daring move, the Israeli military has launched a ground operation against Iranian targets in Syria, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran-backed forces in the region. According to reports, the operation, which was carried out by Israel’s elite special forces unit, Sayeret Matkal, resulted in the destruction of a precision missile factory in western Syria.
The Context
The operation comes amid a surge in tensions between Israel and Iran-backed forces in Syria, including Hezbollah. In recent weeks, there have been several instances of cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah, with both sides accusing each other of aggression. The latest operation is seen as a significant blow to Iran and Hezbollah’s efforts to produce medium-range precision missiles on Syrian territory.
The Operation
According to sources, the Israeli ground operation was carried out on Sunday night in the western Syrian city of Masyaf, close to the border with Lebanon. The operation was reportedly a complex and risky one, involving Israeli special forces who infiltrated the facility and destroyed it from the inside using explosives. The air strikes that accompanied the operation were aimed at preventing the Syrian army from sending reinforcements to the area.
The Target
The target of the operation was a precision missile factory, which was built by Iran in coordination with Hezbollah and Syria in 2018. The factory was located deep in a mountain and was designed to be immune to Israeli air strikes. However, Israeli intelligence had been monitoring the construction process for over five years, under the code name “Deep Layer.”
The Significance
The destruction of the factory represents a major blow to Iran and Hezbollah’s efforts to produce precision missiles on Syrian territory. The operation also highlights Israel’s determination to prevent Iran from establishing a military foothold in Syria, and its willingness to take bold action to achieve this goal.
International Reactions
The Israeli government has been unusually silent on the matter, with officials declining to comment on the operation. However, sources have indicated that the Biden administration was informed in advance of the operation and did not oppose it. The White House has declined to comment on the matter.
Conclusion
The latest operation by the Israeli military marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran-backed forces in Syria. The destruction of the precision missile factory is a major blow to Iran and Hezbollah’s efforts, and highlights Israel’s determination to prevent Iran from establishing a military foothold in Syria. As tensions in the region continue to rise, the international community will be watching closely to see how this latest development plays out.
What was the impact of the Israeli ground operation in Syria on Hezbollah’s missile production capabilities?
Israeli Ground Operation in Syria: A Major Blow to Iran and Hezbollah’s Missile Production
In a bold and unprecedented move, the Israeli military carried out a ground operation in Syria, targeting an Iranian-led missile production facility in the western region of Masyaf, near the border with Lebanon. This daring raid, which resulted in the destruction of the facility, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
The Background
The recent escalation in cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah can be traced back to Hamas’s Operation Protective Edge on October 7. Since then, Israeli airstrikes on Syria have increased, with a focus on targeting Iranian and Hezbollah targets. However, Sunday’s raid was the first ground operation by the Israeli military in recent years against Iranian targets in Syria.
The Operation
According to sources familiar with the operation, the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) elite unit, Sayeret Matkal, carried out the raid and destroyed the facility. The operation was reportedly carried out with the knowledge of the Biden administration, which did not oppose it.
The Israeli special forces surprised the Syrian guards at the facility, killing several of them during the raid. However, no Iranian or Hezbollah gunman was harmed. The special forces used explosives to blow up the underground facility, including the advanced machinery, from the inside.
The Significance
The destruction of the facility represents a major blow to Iran and Hezbollah’s efforts to produce medium-range precision missiles on Syrian territory. The Iranians began building the underground facility in coordination with Hezbollah and Syria in 2018, after a series of Israeli airstrikes destroyed most of Iran’s missile production infrastructure in Syria.
The Iranian plan was to produce precision missiles in this protected facility near the border with Lebanon, allowing for quick and low-risk delivery to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israeli intelligence had been monitoring the construction process for over five years, under the code name “Deep Layer.”
The Risks
The operation was a high-risk one, with the Israeli army considering carrying it out at least twice in recent years but not approving it due to the risks involved. The IDF realized that an air strike would not be sufficient to destroy the facility, and a ground operation was necessary.
Iranian Denials
In response to the news, an Iranian security source denied the reports of Iranian losses in Syria, calling Israel’s claims about capturing two Iranian officers in the Masyaf region “false claims.” The Iranian Foreign Ministry also refused to confirm the reports.
Implications
The Israeli ground operation in Syria marks a significant escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. The destruction of the missile production facility is a major blow to Iran’s efforts to strengthen its presence in the region.
As tensions continue to rise, the international community is watching with bated breath, hoping to prevent a full-scale conflict from breaking out. The operation also raises questions about the role of the United States in the region, and whether it will continue to provide support to Israel in its efforts to counter Iranian aggression.
Keywords: Israeli ground operation, Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, missile production facility, Masyaf, Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes, Hamas, Operation Protective Edge, Israeli intelligence, Sayeret Matkal, Biden administration.
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