The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has launched a series of airstrikes in recent days against Iranian targets in Syria, including a daring ground raid in which troops seized equipment and documents, according to reports in Israel.
Syria is home to Iranian and Russian bases, and is a conduit for arms and reinforcements to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The Jerusalem Post reported Thursday:
Israeli ground forces targeted an Iranian missile production facility in Syria during a strike this week attributed to Israel, according to Middle East expert Eva J. Koulouriotis, who specializes in jihadist groups and cited a security source. Koulouriotis wrote on X that special Israeli forces entered the facility, removed equipment, and then destroyed the site.
On Sunday evening, reports indicated that Israel had carried out a wide-scale attack in the region, which included strikes on a scientific research center believed by Western sources to be responsible for developing non-conventional weapons.
…
The operation reportedly lasted about an hour. Israeli special forces successfully entered the facility, removed key equipment and documents, rigged the site with explosives, and destroyed it, all while withdrawing under air cover.
The Times of Israel added:
The opposition Syria TV network, based in Turkey, reported that Israeli helicopters did not land on Syrian soil, but instead hovered as special forces rappelled down ropes.
The report said there were violent clashes in which three Syrians were killed, and two to four Iranians were captured. The report did not give details as to what happened to the Iranians.
The outlet additionally said that a Russian communications center was among the sites targeted as part of the operation.
The increased intensity and focus of Israeli operations has come as Israeli political leaders have begun stating openly that they are preparing for war against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon to stop rocket, missile, and drone attacks that have forced the evacuation of 63,500 civilians from 74 towns near the northern border of the country.
The goal would be to push Hezbollah back north of the Litani River, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said Thursday that Hezbollah had launched 8,000 rockets and drones at Israel since October, and that 46 people in Israel had been killed, including 24 civilians and one Indian national.
Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). He is the author of The Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days, available for pre-order on Amazon. He is also the author of The Trumpian Virtues: The Lessons and Legacy of Donald Trump’s Presidency, now available on Audible. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.