Israel Destroys Iranian Missile Factory in Syria Ground Operation - Axios
Date: 2024-09-13 Author: Michail Kovalenko Categories: WORLD
IDF's First Ground Operation in Syria in Years
Axios notes that Israeli airstrikes in Syria have intensified since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. But Sunday's raid was the first ground operation the IDF has carried out in years against Iranian targets in Syria.
The destruction of the plant appears to have dealt a significant blow to Iran and Hezbollah's efforts to produce medium-range precision missiles in Syria.
According to sources, the Israeli government "kept an unusual silence" on the matter and did not take responsibility for the attack, in order not to provoke retaliatory actions from Syria, Iran or Hezbollah.
What was happening in Syria before the destruction of the plant
According to Syrian media, at least 16 people were killed and 40 more were injured. The media condemned the airstrikes as "blatant aggression", which in turn was also done by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, calling the attack "criminal".
On Wednesday, September 11, a Syrian opposition TV channel and Greek Middle East expert Eva Koulouriotis reported that the airstrikes were a cover for an IDF ground operation in Masyaf.
In turn, three sources familiar with the operation confirmed to Axios that the Israeli Air Force's elite Shaldag unit carried out the raid and destroyed the facility.
Israel warned the US about the attack
How the plant was destroyed
The special forces used explosives they had brought with them to blow up the underground facility from the inside, including its sophisticated equipment, according to two other sources.
The Axios source added that the airstrikes were intended to prevent the Syrian military from sending reinforcements to the area where the underground factory was located.
When the Factory Was Built
The Iranians chose to build the underground factory deep inside a mountain in Masyaf because it would be impervious to Israeli airstrikes, the sources said.
The sources say the Iranian plan was to build precision missiles at the protected site near the Lebanese border so that the supply process to Hezbollah in Lebanon could be done quickly and with less risk of Israeli airstrikes.
In turn, Israeli intelligence discovered the construction process and monitored it for more than five years under the code name "Deep Layer." The Israelis realized that they could not destroy the site with an airstrike and would need a ground operation.
According to one of the sources, the Israeli military considered such an operation at least twice in recent years, but it was not approved due to the high risk.
