Details are emerging of a daring raid by Israeli special forces on a Hezbollah missile production facility in Syria. According to U.S. media reports, the elite Shaldag unit of the Israeli Air Force conducted the operation early this week, targeting a site near Masyaf, approximately 40 kilometers north of the Lebanese border. Israeli forces reportedly descended from helicopters, planting explosives in the Iranian-built facility and securing sensitive information.
Syrian state media confirmed that 18 people were killed during the raid, with dozens more injured. The raid also involved airstrikes aimed at neutralizing Syria’s defense systems and preventing reinforcements from reaching the location. Although Israel has not officially commented on the incident, sources suggest the mission was designed to disrupt the flow of precision missiles from Iran to Hezbollah, a key ally of the Syrian government and proxy for Tehran.
Israel has previously targeted this facility and has launched numerous airstrikes on Syrian territory, especially following the escalation of the war in Gaza last year. The frequency of Israeli strikes has increased as cross-border attacks by Hezbollah and other groups intensified, with over 60 air and artillery strikes reported in Syria since the start of 2024.
While Israeli airstrikes in Syria are not uncommon, a ground operation of this scale marks a significant escalation. This operation, reportedly carried out with U.S. awareness, demonstrates the heightened military pressure on Iran’s influence in Syria and Hezbollah’s missile capabilities.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group, reports that Israeli strikes this year have resulted in the destruction of about 140 targets, including weapons depots and militia bases. The SOHR also states that at least 208 fighters, including members of Syrian government forces, Hezbollah fighters, and Iranian Revolutionary Guards, have been killed in these strikes, alongside 22 civilians.
The BBC has not independently verified these claims, and Israel’s government remains silent on the matter. However, the scale and sophistication of this raid suggest that Israel is committed to undermining Hezbollah’s military capabilities amid ongoing regional tensions.
