Israel Unveils Details of Covert Strike on Iranian-Backed Missile Facility in Syria

The Israeli military has disclosed details and footage of a covert operation conducted on September 8, 2024, to dismantle an Iranian-funded underground missile production facility in Syria. The precision strike, described as a “special Air Force operation,” involved over 100 elite Kingfisher fighters and various support units, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) announced on Thursday.

Sharing the operation's footage on social media, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) revealed, “In September 2024, before the fall of the Assad Regime, our soldiers conducted an undercover operation to dismantle an Iranian-funded underground precision missile production site in Syria.

עכשיו ניתן לחשוף: למעלה מ-100 לוחמי שלדג פשטו והשמידו אתר תת-קרקעי לייצור טילים מדויקים, במבצע מיוחד של חיל-האוויר בספטמבר האחרון, במרחב מסיאף שבעומק סוריה.https://t.co/VQMkHDFMsI pic.twitter.com/27jaucccJp

— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) January 2, 2025

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The target, located in the Masyaf area west of Hama, was identified as a flagship project of Iran aimed at equipping Hezbollah and other regional proxies with precision missiles and long-range rockets. The facility, codenamed "Deep Layer," was housed within a mountain at the Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC), a site known for advanced weapons development.

According to the IAF, the raid involved helicopters, fighter jets, naval vessels, and fire cover to ensure mission success. The forces reached critical machinery, including a planetary mixer essential for missile production, as well as weapons and intelligence documents, which were secured for further investigation. Following the extraction of sensitive materials, the site was destroyed.

“This operation was essential to the security of the State of Israel,” said Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar. “Our forces have delivered a significant blow to Iran's efforts to arm its proxies on our northern border. This mission will be remembered as a pivotal contribution to the safety and future of Israel.”

Years of intelligence gathering and surveillance by the IDF preceded the operation. The Intelligence Division meticulously monitored the facility, which was funded and constructed under Iran’s direction to bolster missile supplies to Hezbollah and the Assad regime.

The elite Shaldag unit and Unit 669, Israel’s premier search and rescue team, spearheaded the mission, internally dubbed Operation Many Ways. The raid, which took place more than 200 kilometers (124 miles) north of the Israeli border and 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Syria’s western coastline, concluded without injuries to Israeli personnel.

The strike underscores Israel’s ongoing efforts to counter threats posed by Iranian-backed entities in the region, particularly as tensions escalate in Syria and Lebanon.