Israeli Action against Iranians in Syria

Overnight on Wednesday 9^th May Israel’s defence forces reported an Iranian missile attack against military posts in the Golan Heights, saying that their defence systems intercepted 4 of the incoming missiles, whilst another 16 fell short.

In response to that attack the Israeli air force struck a number of targets in Syria linked to Iranian military forces. A British-based human rights group reported that those strikes killed at least 23 fighters, including 5 Syrian troops and 18 allied troops.

IDF map of the targets attacked

Avigdor Liberman, Israel’s Defence Minister, claimed that:

“We hit almost the entire Iranian infrastructure in Syria …
They must understand that if it rains here, it will pour there.”

The Iranian Foreign Ministry countered the Israelis’ explanation of their action, saying:

“The Zionist regime’s frequent attacks on Syria under fabricated and baseless excuses is a breach of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and in defiance of all international laws and regulations.”

However, the British Foreign Secretary said:

“The United Kingdom condemns in the strongest terms the Iranian rocket attacks against Israeli forces.
We strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself.”

And now the world looks on with significant concern, a BBC reporter commenting:

‘Tehran is seeking to establish itself as a military player in Syria to open up another potential front against Israel.
And Israel is equally determined to prevent this.’