Israeli Commando Raid Destroys Hezbollah Missile Facility in Syria

Location: Masyaf, Syria

Israel conducted a high-risk commando operation in Syria on Sunday, targeting a Hezbollah missile production facility near the Lebanese border. The raid, described as “daring” by American and Western officials, involved Israeli special forces landing from helicopters to destroy the facility and recover sensitive materials. The operation, reportedly without any Israeli casualties, marked one of the most complex raids carried out by Israel in recent years.

Key Details of the Raid:

• Target and Operation Execution:
  The target was an underground precision missile factory linked to the Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC) near Masyaf in northwest Syria. The SSRC is recognized by Israel, the United States, and independent experts as a weapons research and development center, reportedly involved in the production of missiles, chemical, biological, and potentially nuclear weapons with support from Iran.

• Ground Forces and Airstrikes:
  Due to the complexity of the operation, Israeli special forces were deployed to conduct a ground raid. Helicopters were used to drop commandos near the facility, enabling them to seize critical materials and destroy the site from within. Concurrently, a series of airstrikes targeted the facility and surrounding infrastructure, aiming to prevent reinforcements from reaching the site.
• High-Level Coordination with the U.S.:
  Israel reportedly informed senior American officials ahead of the raid. On the day of the operation, Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, head of the U.S. Central Command, was briefed on Israel’s military plans during his visit to the Israeli military’s Northern Command.
• Heavy Casualties and Infrastructure Damage:
  The airstrikes, which began late Sunday and continued into early Monday, were some of the deadliest in Syria in months. Syrian state media, SANA, reported at least 18 fatalities and 37 injuries, with six in critical condition. The strikes also resulted in significant damage to roads, water, electricity, and telephone infrastructure.

Information from Opposition and Local Sources:

• Hezbollah’s Missile Capabilities:
  The facility was reportedly producing precision-guided missiles for Hezbollah, enhancing the group’s capability to target northern Israel more accurately. The Israeli operation aimed to neutralize this threat by destroying the production site.
• Airdrop and Ground Clashes:
  Syrian opposition sources, including Syria TV broadcasting from Turkey, confirmed that the operation was not limited to airstrikes but included an airdrop, violent clashes, and the capture of Iranian personnel. Israeli helicopters hovered above the targeted area without landing, and Israeli drones destroyed Syrian security vehicles, effectively cutting off all access routes to the site.
• Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Report:
  According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the raid primarily targeted the “Hair Abbas” site, a facility dedicated to the manufacture and development of medium-range precision missiles, supervised by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The operation involved around five helicopters flying at low altitudes and several drones. One drone was reportedly shot down by Syrian air defenses over Baniyas.

Strategic Implications:

The recent raid underscores Israel’s commitment to disrupting Hezbollah’s efforts to enhance its missile capabilities, especially those with precision targeting that could pose a significant threat to Israel’s northern regions. The involvement of special forces highlights the operation’s complexity and the critical intelligence gathering aspect of the mission.

While the facility was once associated with chemical weapons production, American and Western officials noted that its recent focus was on missile development for Hezbollah. The operation signifies a robust Israeli strategy to counter Iranian influence in Syria and limit Hezbollah’s military expansion.

The attack also emphasizes the covert cooperation between Israel and the United States in addressing mutual security concerns in the Middle East. The potential capture of Iranian personnel could yield valuable intelligence, further straining Israel-Iran relations and potentially leading to further escalations in the region.

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