Israel Strikes Enemies in Syria

On Tuesday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) discovered and disabled explosive devices planted inside Israeli territory next to the border with Syria. Although they suspect Iranian-backed militia groups planted the explosives, Defence Minister Benny Gantz said they held Syria responsible.

In August this year, the IDF detected four armed men from a militia group attempting to plant bombs in the same location. Since then, the IDF has increased its surveillance of the area. 

This morning, Israeli aircraft struck Iranian-backed targets in Syria as a response to Tuesday’s discovery. Brigadier General Hidai Zilberman, said they attacked eight targets, including arms depots, military headquarters and surface-to-air missile batteries. He continued:

“We are prepared for any scenario, both on the ground and with air defences.”

Israel’s Defence Minister, Benny Gantz, stated that:

“The IDF struck military targets belonging to the Iranian Quds Force and the Syrian military
in response to the explosives left on the Syrian border, within Israeli territory …
The Syrian regime is responsible for everything that is done from its territory and within its territory.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) monitors such events and says that at least 10 people were killed in the overnight strikes.

They say that at least five of those killed were Iranians – members of the elite Quds Force, an arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Three more were Syrians, identified as officers and members of air defence forces, another two were said to be either Iraqi or Lebanese.

The number of dead is likely to increase because some of the wounded are thought to be in a serious condition. 

IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Conricus made the detailed statement that three Iranian command centres were hit - a headquarters at Damascus international airport, a Quds Force base inside the headquarters of Syrian Army`s 7th Division, and a ‘secret military site which served as a hosting facility for senior Iranian delegations.’

“We hope now that the message is clear - that it is unacceptable that the Syrian regime
allows and tolerates and facilitates the use by Iranian forces
of Syria as a launchpad for attacks against Israel.”