Israel Attacks Iranian Positions in Syria
Tensions between Israel and Iran have escalated. According to Israel, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces attacked the Golan Heights from Syrian territory, and Israel has responded with retaliatory strikes against Syria.
The Israeli military announced in a statement that the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted several Israeli positions in the Golan Heights from Wednesday midnight (May 9 / Ordibehesht 19) to Thursday.
According to an Israeli military spokesman, approximately twenty “projectiles” were fired during this attack toward Israeli military bases along the border with Syria. Some of them were intercepted by the “Iron Dome” air defense system.
The Israeli military spokesman added that the army considers this “a severe attack by Iran” and is preparing for various scenarios. According to the spokesman, “Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force, ordered these attacks, but they failed to reach their targets.”
The Israeli military spokesman said that there were no casualties during these attacks and the extent of material damage is under investigation. The German news agency reported, citing the spokesman, that the missiles fired at Israel were “Fajr 5” type.
Without providing details, the spokesman announced that the Israeli military had responded to these attacks. When asked how Israel knows that the Quds Force was responsible, he gave only a brief response, saying: “We are aware of this matter.”
According to the German news agency, the spokesman spoke of intense Israeli strikes and, referring to the Quds Force, emphasized: “They paid a heavy price for their attack tonight, and if they attack Israel again, they will pay that price as well.”
The Israeli military spokesman referred to one of “the largest Israeli attacks on Iranian positions” and added that heavy damage has been inflicted on the military forces of the Islamic Republic in Syria.
According to the spokesman, secret intelligence facilities, logistics infrastructure, warehouses, and military positions were targeted and damaged. He added that a missile launcher vehicle from which missiles were fired at the Golan Heights was also targeted and destroyed. This vehicle was stationed 30 to 40 kilometers from Damascus.
The Israeli military spokesman emphasized that the country has no desire to escalate tensions, but renewed attempts to attack Israel will be met with severe responses. According to him, Israel informed Russia of the operation before attacking Syria.
Given warnings and the likelihood of Iranian attacks from Syrian territory, Israel has intensified its measures and mobilized reserve soldiers on Tuesday (May 8 / Ordibehesht 18), including airforce soldiers and intelligence organization personnel.
The Israeli military also ordered that the doors of underground shelters in residential areas along the Golan Heights be opened, as “suspicious movements of Iranian forces on Syrian soil” had been detected.
Israeli intelligence agencies have warned for several days about potential Iranian attacks on Israel in retaliation for a strike on a base in Syria that killed seven Iranians. The Islamic Republic and Syria hold Israel responsible for this attack.
Israeli Response
Almost simultaneously with the attacks that Israel reported on Wednesday evening (May 9), Syrian state media also announced that Israel had targeted positions in Syria. It is reported that during these attacks, multiple missiles were fired by Israel at positions in Quneitra Province in southwestern Syria.
Syria’s state news agency (SANA) also reported that these missiles were launched from the Golan Heights and that Syria successfully intercepted some of them.
According to the agency’s report, “Israel’s aim with these attacks is to destroy Syrian radar systems and air defense systems.” SANA reported the destruction of a radar system and damage to Syrian military bases.
The Syria Human Rights Watch organization, based in London, also reported on Israeli missile attacks on Syrian territory but did not release details about casualties.
“Spiegel Online” reported, citing a French news agency correspondent, that massive explosions were heard in Damascus in the early morning hours of Thursday (May 10 / Ordibehesht 20) and multiple aircraft were flying over the city.
The intense exchange of fire between Syria and Israel occurred one day after the United States withdrew from the JCPOA and following a meeting between Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister, and Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President. Putin, given the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, had sought to find a solution to ease these tensions.
Source: DW
