In a bold and unprecedented operation, Israeli forces reportedly conducted a ground raid on an Iranian weapons depot in Syria, marking a significant escalation in Israel's ongoing campaign against Iranian military entrenchment in the region. According to multiple reports, Israeli troops infiltrated a high-security complex belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in the Hama region, capturing equipment, seizing critical documents, and setting off explosives that obliterated the facility.
The Operation: A Multi-Phase Assault
The operation unfolded amidst intense Israeli airstrikes in northwestern Syria, particularly targeting military sites around Masyaf in the Hama countryside. Syrian state media reported a barrage of Israeli strikes late Sunday, resulting in the deaths of 14 people and wounding dozens more. Contrasting reports suggested different casualty figures, with some sources noting as few as three deaths, underscoring the chaotic nature of the aftermath.
Some more info from this report:
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) September 12, 2024
Israeli ground forces targeted an Iranian missile production facility in Syria. IDF Special forces infiltrated the site, extracted critical equipment and documents, planted explosives, and demolished the facility, all while retreating under the… https://t.co/oWQSwxWZbD pic.twitter.com/Jbtz5z8psu
Reports from Syrian opposition media, including Syria TV, based in Turkey, described a dramatic sequence in which Israeli commandos descended from helicopters using ropes, infiltrated the compound, and executed a meticulously planned ground raid. Israeli drones provided overhead protection, launching strikes to prevent any hostile forces from approaching the operatives on the ground. This level of coordination and precision highlights the depth of Israeli intelligence and operational capabilities.
Targets and Tactics: Striking at the Heart of Iran’s Military Presence
Among the primary targets was the Scientific Studies and Research Center (CERS or SSRC), a notorious military research facility linked to chemical weapons development and staffed by Iranian military experts. Intelligence sources confirmed that Israeli troops entered an unspecified arms depot within the complex, methodically dismantling the operation by removing sensitive equipment and documents. Once the mission was complete, they rigged the site with explosives, ensuring its complete destruction.
BREAKING: IDF Special Forces stormed an Iranian missile facility in Syria, executing a precise ground operation.
— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) September 12, 2024
The Israeli Air Force provided cover as they seized equipment and planted explosives.
There's absolutely nothing stopping us. pic.twitter.com/KVED1Pbhoz
Israel’s rare admission of responsibility for such ground operations in Syria underscores the strategic importance of this mission. While Israel has frequently targeted Iranian-backed forces in Syria, the scale and audacity of this operation set it apart. According to Major General (res.) Tamir Hayman, head of Israel's Institute for National Security Studies and former head of the IDF Intelligence Directorate, the raid demonstrated Israel’s ability to execute complex commando operations that target distant, fortified, and potentially underground facilities.
Capturing the Enemy: A Blow to Iran's Regional Ambitions
The Israeli forces reportedly captured two to four IRGC operatives during the raid, a significant intelligence haul that could offer insights into Iran’s operations in Syria. The facility itself was believed to be pivotal in Iran's efforts to supply Hezbollah and other Shia militias with precision-guided missiles and advanced air defense systems. These weapons pose a direct threat to Israel, and their destruction disrupts Iran’s ongoing attempts to arm its proxies across the region.
This is a WOW, just now breaking in Israel: 3 nights ago, IDF SpecOps choppered into Syria and successful mission blew up the Scientific Studies and Research Center, known as CERS or SSRC, an Iranian facility manned by INRG that manufactures precision surface-to-surface missiles… pic.twitter.com/pae5Lw2WTJ
— Rabbi Lazer Brody (@LazerBrody) September 12, 2024
The Syrian regime’s response was notably muted, with reports suggesting that rescue teams were initially blocked from reaching the site. Speculation has emerged that elements within the Syrian regime may have tacitly facilitated the Israeli strike and troop deployment, highlighting the complex and often opaque dynamics between Syria, Iran, and other regional actors.
Aftermath and Strategic Implications
In the days following the raid, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based opposition monitoring group, reported that at least 18 people were killed, including civilians and military personnel. The true extent of the damage remains shrouded in secrecy, as the Syrian regime has restricted information and relocated the bodies of military casualties to undisclosed locations.
IDF accused of launching widespread airstrikes across Syria, which targeted a scientific center that 'has essentially been co-opted and taken over by the Quds Force,' @YaakovLappin of the @miryaminstitute tells @benitalevin pic.twitter.com/StLRP5BEfI
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) September 9, 2024
This daring operation sends a clear message: Israel will not tolerate Iranian entrenchment on its northern border and is prepared to take decisive, offensive actions deep within hostile territory to safeguard its national security. The implications of this raid extend beyond the immediate tactical victory, serving as a warning to Iran and its proxies that their activities in Syria are not beyond the reach of Israel’s military prowess.
As the region braces for potential retaliation, this operation stands as a testament to Israel’s unyielding commitment to countering Iranian aggression and ensuring its own security amidst an increasingly volatile Middle Eastern landscape.
