Israel acknowledged on Wednesday its involvement in a commando mission carried out last September at a Syrian military research facility located in Masyaf, which was under the control of the Assad regime.
The operation saw the participation of the Israel Air Force’s Shaldag Unit and Unit 669, aiming to dismantle the underground research facility up close. The forces arrived swiftly via helicopters, landing in Syria and deploying the Shaldag commandos, who then destroyed the site that was responsible for producing advanced Iranian weaponry.
The commando unit caught the Syrian guards off guard, engaging in a firefight that resulted in the deaths of several personnel during the raid. Following the operation’s success, the forces quickly reboarded their helicopters and returned to Israel, as the Israeli Air Force launched airstrikes in the surrounding region.
This facility, built by Iran with the assistance of Hezbollah, was hidden within a mountain in Masyaf, making it highly protected from aerial strikes. Israeli intelligence had been monitoring the site for five years prior to the operation.
Describing the mission, the IDF stated, “This is one of the most dangerous and daring commando operations that the IDF carried out outside of the country’s borders, heroically and with many dangers, but with careful planning by the IAF which led to the wanted results: the destruction of Iran and Syria’s strategic capabilities over dozens of kilometers from Israel.” Masyaf is located 240 kilometers from Israel’s border.
It wasn’t until today that Israel officially took responsibility for the raid, although American and Western sources had already confirmed Israel’s involvement to the New York Times shortly after the mission was carried out.
{Matzav.com Israel}
