Israel’s Attack on Syria; Response to Landing of ‘Stray Missile’

In retaliation for an attack near the Dimona nuclear facility, Israel struck several bases near Damascus. The Associated Press news agency cited an article in the Kayhan newspaper in which it was suggested to attack Dimona in response to the Natanz attack.

After a missile was fired at the vicinity of Israel’s sensitive nuclear facility in the early hours of Thursday, April 22 local time, the country struck a Syrian missile base and air defense system.

According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, four soldiers were wounded in the attacks that took place near Damascus, and damage was incurred. The agency said the missiles were fired from the Golan Heights, which is under Israeli occupation.

Following the missile attack on Israel early Thursday morning, alarm sirens sounded in Abu Qureines, a village only a few kilometers from Dimona, where Israel’s nuclear facility is located.

The Israeli army said in response to this missile attack, it activated its anti-missile defense system but cannot confirm that these missiles were targeted. However, it was stated that these missiles caused no damage. According to the Israeli army, the explosions heard throughout Israel were likely from this country’s air defense system.

Based on the Israeli army’s explanation, the missiles fired were of the surface-to-air type, which are mostly used to counter fighter jets or other missiles. These Syrian missiles were likely fired to counter Israeli fighters but their course was diverted and they hit the ground. Although Dimona is located 300 kilometers south of Damascus and is too far for surface-to-air missiles.

Most Severe Tensions Between Israel and Syria With Iran’s Involvement

The Associated Press assessed these two attacks as the most severe tensions between Israel and Syria in recent years and reported on the possibility of Iranian involvement. The agency wrote that the Islamic Republic has military forces in Syria and holds Israel responsible for cyber and sabotage attacks on its nuclear facilities, the latest of which was the attack on the Natanz site on April 11.

Iran has not accepted responsibility for these attacks on Israel, and Islamic Republic officials have not yet shown an official reaction to them. However, the Associated Press cited an article in the Kayhan newspaper written by Seyed-Abdollah Zarei on Saturday, in which it was proposed to attack the Dimona nuclear facility in response to the Natanz sabotage. In the opinion of the article’s author, the Dimona facility is equivalent to Natanz, and he described the attack on this facility as “an eye for an eye.”

It is said that the Dimona nuclear facility is the main center of Israel’s secret nuclear weapons program, which this country has never confirmed or denied.

Mutual attacks between Israel and Syria could also affect the Vienna negotiations aimed at reviving the JCPOA.

Source: DW