Israeli special forces allegedly raid Iranian weapons facility in Syria
An ambulance drives past a vehicle that burned in the town of Masyaf, Syria, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo)
According to unconfirmed Israeli media reports, Israeli special forces raided an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) weapons facility in the Masyaf region of Syria earlier this week.
The first reports were about an Israeli airstrike, killing at least 14 people, wounding 43 and sparking fires at sites believed to house Iranian forces, according to Syrian state media.
Israeli airstrikes, ground raid reports
The Israeli raid is said to have followed a series of Israeli airstrikes on military sites in central Syria late Sunday, which resulted in the deaths of at least 14 individuals and injured 43 others, according to local reports.
The strikes reportedly hit the Scientific Studies and Research Center (CERS) in Masyaf, an alleged site linked to chemical weapons and missile production by the Syrian regime and Iranian forces.
However, the Israeli reports suggest that Israeli ground forces were involved in the operation.
According to opposition network Syria TV, Israeli helicopters hovered above the site while Israeli special forces rappelled into the area, without landing directly on Syrian soil.
The network also reported violent clashes, with several Syrian military personnel killed and two to four Iranian operatives captured during the raid.
No official comment from Israel
As of now, there has been no official comment from the Israeli government, which typically refrains from acknowledging specific military operations in Syria.
The Masyaf area has been the target of numerous attacks in recent years, widely attributed to Israel, because of its role as a base for Iranian forces and pro-Iranian militias.
The Scientific Studies and Research Center (CERS), a key facility in the region, has been associated with chemical weapons production, including sarin gas, according to Western officials. Syrian authorities have repeatedly denied these allegations.
Unprecedented raid, casualty numbers
The Al Hurra network reported that the scale and intensity of the raid in the Masyaf area, along with the casualty numbers, were unusual compared to previous Israeli operations in the region.
A Russian communications center was also allegedly among the targets hit during the Israeli raid, though details remain unclear.
