Israel Hits Syria in 480 Air Strikes to Prevent Weapons From Falling to Rebels It Assisted

The Israel Air Force targeted the majority of the strategic weapons stockpiles within Syria, carrying out some 350 strikes, the military confirmed on Tuesday night. [Has now risen to over 480 strikes.]

The aim of the operation was to prevent them from falling within reach of terrorist groups in Syria.

The Israeli navy struck both the Al-Bayda and Latakia ports, in which were some 15 Syrian naval vessels, the military added.

The military struck anti-aircraft batteries, air force fields belonging to the Syrian military, and weapons production facilities in Damascus, Homs, Latakia, Palmyra, and Tartus. The IDF also degraded cruise missiles, surface-to-sea missiles, UAVs, fighter jets, radars, tanks, and attack helicopters, among other things.

Earlier, it was reported that most of the strikes were in southern Syria and around the city of Damascus, targeting Syrian army bases, with an emphasis on air defense systems and stores of surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles.

Israeli security sources indicate that these actions have significantly expanded the air force’s operational freedom.

Pantsir S1 air-defence system destroyed by #Israel/i airstrike near Damascus. #Syria https://t.co/rBuZ70JUNh pic.twitter.com/nNc2Ev8bmr

— Yeghia Tashjian /يغيا/ Եղիա Թաշճեան 🇱🇧🇦🇲 (@yeghig) December 8, 2024

Additionally, there have been attempts by Hezbollah to seize Syrian weaponry.

On Monday evening, two Syrian security sources told Reuters that IAF jets had struck at least three major Syrian army air bases that housed dozens of helicopters and jets.

The Qamishli air base in northeast Syria, the Shinshar base in the countryside of Homs, and the Aqrba airport southwest of the capital Damascus were all hit, the sources said.

The air force also reportedly carried out several strikes on a research center on the outskirts of Damascus and a center for electronic warfare near the Sayeda Zainab area of the capital.

https://twitter.com/Osint613/status/1866270634730254642

Also on Tuesday morning, citing Arab reports, Israeli media reported that IDF tanks were spotted approximately 20 km from Damascus.

According to Reuters, the IAF sunk several Syrian military vessels in their home port. The IDF later confirmed that the Israeli navy had conducted a large-scale operation overnight to destroy Syria’s naval fleet.

“The attack was carried out using Navy missile ships, during which many Syrian naval vessels carrying dozens of sea-to-sea missiles were destroyed in the Mina al-Bayda area and the port of Latakia,” the military reported.

The IDF noted that the operation was conducted to stop the fleet’s assets “from falling into the hands of hostile elements.”

Source: The Jerusalem Post