JERUSALEM — Elite Israeli forces performed a dramatic raid in Syria, destroying a secret underground long-range missile manufacturing facility that additionally contained details about Syria’s chemical weapons program in September, based on the Israel Protection Forces (IDF).
The IDF first revealed the mission Thursday in a name with reporters.
“That is one among our most important and complicated particular operations lately, even on this advanced yr and a half,” IDF spokesperson Nadav Shoshani mentioned.
The IDF supplied spectacular footage of the Israeli commandos in the course of the daring mission in addition to the large explosion of the subterranean advanced after the troops had cleared it.
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IDF particular forces inside a Syrian missile advanced in September 2024. (IDF Spokesman’s Unit)
“The precision-guided missile manufacturing facility or facility was dug into the facet of a mountain underground,” the IDF spokesperson mentioned.
Details about Syria’s chemical weapons program was uncovered in the course of the mission.
“I’ve seen a few of them — notebooks and paperwork — and lots of them comprise very particular chemical substances,” Shoshani mentioned. “One among them that I noticed was a chemical handbook that describes learn how to manufacture a missile on the finish of the raid. The troops dismantled the ability, together with the machines and the manufacturing, to make sure the protection of Israel.”
Assad’s regime repeatedly used chemical weapons on his inhabitants in the course of the almost 14-year civil warfare that ripped aside the nation. The U.S.-designated terrorist motion Hezbollah performed a key position in aiding Assad’s regime in the course of the civil warfare.
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The manufacturing facility was designed to fabricate between 150-350 missiles a yr, together with precision-guided missiles (PGM), based on the IDF. Commandoes from the IDF’s elite air pressure unit Shaldag participated within the mission. The IDF mentioned 30 Syrian troopers have been killed in the course of the operation.
The IDF spokesperson instructed reporters the operation “was aimed toward an Iranian-funded precision-guided missile manufacturing facility inside Syrian territory close to the border with Lebanon. This facility was designed to fabricate a whole lot of strategic missiles per yr from begin to end for Hezbollah to make use of of their aerial assaults on Israel and for its Iranian axis in Syria.
“Due to the particular terrain and this facility being underground, we couldn’t function from the air space. Additionally, on Sept. 8 final yr, 2024, particular forces performed a nighttime focused raid on the ability. This raid concerned over 100 troopers. There have been additionally dozens of plane, together with helicopters and different forms of plane. The forces have been flown in by helicopters.”
Israeli air pressure Shaldag particular forces raid a missile manufacturing facility in Syria. (IDF Spokesman’s Unit)
“I salute our heroic fighters for the daring and profitable operation deep in Syria,” Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned in an announcement. “This was one of the vital essential preventive operations that we have now taken in opposition to the efforts of the Iranian axis to arm itself with a purpose to assault us; it attests to our boldness and willpower to take motion all over the place to defend ourselves.”
After the devastating Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas invasion of Israel, which resulted within the homicide of greater than 1,200 individuals, together with 40 Individuals, Israel has confronted multi-prong assaults from Iran’s regime — the principle sponsor of Hamas, Hezbollah; the Houthis; and the toppled Bashar Assad regime in Syria.
Amit Segal, chief political analyst of Israel’s Channel 12, instructed Fox Information Digital, “The Israeli perspective for years was that Iran operates as an octopus within the Center East, with the top being the nuclear program in Tehran and the arms being the standard terrorist organizations surrounding Israel. Netanyahu’s view was that the arms have been meant to harass and occupy Israel whereas the top raced towards nuclear functionality, and subsequently it was preferable to comprise them and give attention to the principle menace.
IDF officers watch because the operation unfolds. (IDF Spokesman’s Unit)
“This notion shattered on Oct. 7 when it grew to become clear that the arms weren’t only a nuisance however an existential menace.”
The advanced commando raid on the underground Syrian manufacturing facility is also a shot throughout the bow for the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear weapons services embedded in mountains.
“After a yr and 1 / 4 devoted to severing the octopus’s arms, Israel stands in 2025 at a historic crossroads for the confrontation Netanyahu has lengthy sought and for which historical past will decide him: eliminating the nuclear menace as soon as and for all,” Segal famous.
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Hezbollah terrorists type a human barrier in the course of the funeral procession of slain high Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut’s southern suburbs Aug. 1, 2024. (Khaled Desouki/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
The IDF spokesperson mentioned development on the Syrian missile manufacturing facility “started on the finish of 2017 and resulted in 2021 when manufacturing equipment was despatched from Iran to the location. A lot of the parts within the manufacturing facility have been sourced from Iran.”
From October 2023 to November 2024, Hezbollah launched over 17,000 projectiles towards Israel, killing dozens of Israelis, the IDF spokesperson mentioned.
