IAF Strikes in Syria to Thwart Iranian Drone Attack

Israeli fighter jets carried out airstrikes near Damascus in order to prevent an Iranian-backed force from launching an attack on Israel using explosives-laden drones, the IDF confirmed

IAF Strikes in Syria to Thwart Iranian Drone Attack

Still from footage showing the scene of the strike (Screenshot: Twitter)

The Israeli Air Force struck targets near Damascus, Syria to thwart a planned attack on Israel by Iran-backed fighters using armed drones, the IDF announced Saturday night.

“We just prevented a pending, large-scale attack of multiple killer drones on Israel by striking Iranian Quds Force operatives and Shi’ite Militia targets in Syria,” the IDF wrote in a post on Twitter.

The Iranian Quds operatives and Shi’ite militias planned to launch a number of armed drones against Israeli targets, IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ronen Manelis said in a statement tweeted in Hebrew.

“Qassem Solemani (Iranian Quds Force commander) and the Quds Force led the attempted attack. We view with great severity the activity of the Quds Force and the fact that the Syrian regime allows the Iranians to operate freely from Syria… Israeli Air Force combat planes attacked a number of targets in the village of Aqraba. The purpose of the cell was to launch multiple attack drones on northern Israeli territory,” Manelis wrote.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said two Hezbollah operatives and one Iranian were killed in the attack.

“In a major operational effort, we have thwarted an attack against Israel by the Iranian Quds force and Shi’ite militias,” Prime Minister and Defense Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said following the IDF’s confirmation of the strike

“I reiterate: Iran has no immunity anywhere. Our forces operate in every sector against the Iranian aggression. ‘If someone rises up to kill you, kill him first.’

“I have directed that our forces be prepared for any scenario. We will continue to take determined and responsible action against Iran and its proxies for the security of Israel,” said Netanyahu.

IAF bases were put on high alert in anticipation of possible retaliation from Iran. Iron Dome anti-missile defense batteries have been deployed in the northern region as a precautionary measure. Authorities, however, have not issued any special safety instructions for local residents. 

Later overnight Hezbollah claimed two Israeli drones crashed in Beirut. A spokesman for the terrorist group said one armed drone “caused a massive explosion and severe damage” to the group’s media center in the Moawwad neighborhood in the Shi’ite quarter of Beirut commonly known as Dahieh, while the second one fell “without causing any damage.” 

Israel did not officially comment on Hezbollah’s statement.

 

[Sources: The Jewish Press, Haaretz, i24 News, The Times of Israel]

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