According to reports by Alrabiya** on the evening of December 29, Israel recently carried out an airstrike on an air defense base in southern Syria, which led to heavy losses in the region. The airstrikes are the latest Israeli move against pro-Iranian targets in Syria since the start of the war in Gaza on October 7.
According to reports, the Israeli attack took place in the early hours of Friday morning, and Israeli forces launched an attack from the Golan Heights, targeting an important air defense base in southern Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that Israeli missiles attacked the area of Damascus International Airport, as well as an air defense battalion in the southern countryside of Suweida province.
Despite the fact that official Syrian claims that its air defense forces carried out an effective counterattack against Israeli missiles, shooting down most of them, in reality this airstrike caused serious damage to Iran. Alrabiya** reported that the airstrike killed 11 officers of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.
This information is also confirmed by the report of the Russian Interfax news agency, adding that when the air strikes took place, members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps were greeting a high-level delegation at the Damascus airport. The suddenness and intensity of the airstrikes caught the Iranian side by surprise.
According to a report by Fox News, the Israeli airstrike specifically targeted Damascus International Airport, resulting in the deaths of 11 senior members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Jerusalem Post report further revealed that among those killed was Nur Rashid, a senior commander in charge of the construction of the Revolutionary Guard Corps in eastern Syria.
For years, Israel has been working to combat what it considers to be targets inside Syria with Iran. Since the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas on October 7, Israel has stepped up its strikes against Iranian targets in Syria. Last month, Iranian-backed air defense systems built in the south were also bombed by Israel.
On December 26, Iran's Tasnim news agency revealed that General Razi Mousavi of the Revolutionary Guards, an elite member of the Iranian armed forces, was tragically killed in an Israeli airstrike on the outskirts of the Syrian capital, Damascus. General Mousavi is largely responsible for coordinating the Syrian and Iranian military alliances, is regarded as one of the Revolutionary Guards' most senior advisers and a close comrade-in-arms of the late Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani.
A few days after General Moussaoui's assassination, Iran announced the execution of four moles linked to the Israeli intelligence service Mossad, accusing them of sabotage under the direction of the Mossad.
Israel has not only carried out frequent air strikes against Iranian targets in Syria, but has even carried out numerous attacks on Iranian soil. A few days after the assassination of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps adviser Radi Mousavi, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett revealed in an article published in Wall Street that Israel attacked Iranian targets at least twice in 2022, according to December 29**. The first was the destruction of a drone facility at Iran's Tiem military base in February 2022, and the second was the successful assassination of Hassan Saeed Khodayari, a member of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, in March 2022.
After the killing of General Mousavi, Iran** and the top military officials have spoken out, vowing to retaliate against Israel. Iran's chief minister, Amir Abdollahian, warned that "Tel Aviv must wait for a grim countdown," while Iranian intelligence minister Ismail Khatib said retaliation against Israel was inevitable and would take place at the right time and place.
The deaths of 11 Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officers in Israeli airstrikes have heightened Iran's hostility towards Israel and the sense of urgency for retaliation. These new events and old feuds may cause Iran to accelerate its retaliatory actions against Israel.
In the evening of December 29, Alrabiya** reported that Israeli airstrikes on air defense bases in southern Syria caused Iran heavy losses in the region. The scope and intensity of the airstrikes reflect the escalating intensity of Israel's strikes against pro-Iranian targets in Syria. Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza on 7 October, Israeli military operations in Syria have become more frequent and intense.
The airstrike, which reportedly took place in the early hours of Friday, saw Israeli forces strike from the direction of the Golan Heights with precision strikes targeting key air defense bases in southern Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that the targets of the attacks included air defense camps in the area of Damascus International Airport, as well as in the southern countryside of Suweida province.
Although Syrian officials claimed that their air defenses had successfully intercepted most of the missiles, in reality the airstrike caused serious damage to Iran, killing 11 officers of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Alrabiya**'s report revealed that the airstrikes were a major blow to Iran's power in the region.
This information is confirmed by reports from Russia's Interfax news agency and the American Fox News network. They noted that at the time of the attack, members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps were greeting a high-level delegation at the Damascus airport. The suddenness and ferocity of the airstrikes reflect Israel's determination and precision in targeting Iran in Syria.
The Jerusalem Post's report further revealed the identities of the dead, including Nur Rashid, a senior commander involved in the construction of the Syrian Revolutionary Guard Corps. These reports all point to Israel's ongoing assault on Iranian forces in Syria.
In fact, Israel's actions in Syria were not limited to this attack. Israel has been committed to targeting Iranian-related targets in Syria, especially since the outbreak of the Israeli-Hamas conflict on 7 October, which has seen more frequent and intense attacks on Iranian targets in Syria. Last month, Iranian-backed Syrian-backed air defense systems were also targeted by Israeli bombing.
Iran's Tasnim news agency reported on December 26 that Revolutionary Guard General Razi Mousavi was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the outskirts of the Syrian capital, Damascus. General Mousavi plays a key role in the military alliance between Syria and Iran and is one of the most senior advisers to the Revolutionary Guards.
Iran responded harshly after the killing of General Mousavi by announcing the execution of four moles linked to the Israeli intelligence service Mossad. This move reflects Iran's strong reaction to Israel's military operation in Syria.
In addition to its military operations in Syria, Israel has carried out a number of attacks on Iranian soil. According to the report on December 29, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett revealed in an article published in Wall Street** that Israel attacked Iranian homeland targets at least twice in 2022, including an attack on a drone facility at the Thiem military base in February and an assassination attempt on Hassan Said Khodayari, a member of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, in March.
Iran has reacted strongly to Israel's successive attacks, with Iran's chief Amir Abdollahian and intelligence minister Ismail Khatib both issuing warnings of retaliatory action against Israel. Iran** spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi also said that retaliation against Israel is certain and will be carried out at the right time and place.
Iran's hostility towards Israel and its willingness to retaliate have intensified after 11 officers of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed in Israeli air strikes. These new events, compounded by old feuds, could prompt Iran to accelerate its retaliatory actions against Israel and escalate tensions between the two countries.