Israel attacks Iranian positions in Syria
Tensions between Israel and Iran have escalated. According to Israel, Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces have attacked the Golan Heights from inside Syria, and Israel has responded by launching counterattacks on Syria.
The Israeli army issued a statement announcing that the Quds Force of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had attacked a number of Israeli positions in the Golan Heights between midnight on Wednesday (May 9) and Thursday.
According to an Israeli military spokesman, about twenty “projectiles” were fired at Israeli military bases along the country’s border with Syria during the attack, with a number of them being destroyed by the Iron Dome missile defense system.
The Israeli military spokesman added that the country’s military considers this action “a severe attack by Iran” and is busy preparing itself for various scenarios. According to the spokesman, “Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards, ordered the attacks, but they failed to achieve their target.”
An Israeli military spokesman said that there were no casualties in the attacks and that the extent of the financial damage was being assessed. The German news agency quoted the spokesman as saying that the missiles fired at Israel were Fajr 5s.
The spokesman announced, without providing details, that the Israeli military had responded to the attacks. When asked how Israel knew that the IRGC Quds Force was responsible for the attacks, he simply replied, "We are aware of this."
According to the German news agency, the spokesman spoke about the severe Israeli attacks and, referring to the Quds Force forces, stated: "They paid a heavy price for their attack tonight, and if they attack Israel again, they will pay the price."
In this regard, the Israeli army spokesman spoke of one of the "largest Israeli attacks against Iranian positions" and added that heavy losses had been inflicted on the Islamic Republic's military forces in Syria.
According to the spokesman, the secret organization's facilities, logistics, warehouses and military positions were targeted and damaged. He added that the rocket launcher vehicle from which the missiles were fired at the Golan Heights was also targeted and destroyed. The vehicle was located 30 to 40 kilometers from Damascus.
The Israeli military spokesman stressed that the country does not want to escalate tensions, but that any further attempts to attack Israel would be met with a heavy response. He said that Israel had informed Russia of the operation before attacking Syria.
Israel has intensified its measures in response to warnings and the possibility of Iranian attacks from Syrian territory and on Tuesday (May 8) mobilized reserve troops, including soldiers from the Air Force and the Secret Intelligence Service.
The Israeli army has also ordered the opening of underground bunkers in residential areas along the Golan Heights, as "suspicious movements of Iranian forces on Syrian soil" have been detected.
Israeli intelligence agencies have been warning for several days about possible Iranian attacks on Israel in retaliation for an attack on a base in Syria that killed seven Iranians. The Islamic Republic and Syria blame Israel for the attack.
Israel's accountability
Almost simultaneously with the attacks announced by Israel on Wednesday evening (May 9), Syrian state media also announced that Israel had targeted sites in Syria. It is said that during these attacks, several missiles were fired by Israel at sites in the Quneitra province, located in southwestern Syria.
The Syrian state news agency (SANA) also reported that these missiles were launched from the Golan Heights and that Syria managed to repel a number of them.
According to the news agency, “Israel’s aim with these attacks is to destroy Syrian radar systems and missile defense systems.” SANA reported that a radar system was destroyed and that damage was caused to Syrian military bases.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported Israeli missile attacks on Syrian territory, but did not release details about casualties in these attacks.
"Spiegel Online" quoted an AFP reporter as saying that in the early hours of Thursday morning (May 10), huge explosions were heard in Damascus and numerous planes were flying over the city.
The heavy exchange of fire between Syria and Israel came a day after the US withdrew from the nuclear deal and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had called for a solution to the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel.
Source: DW
