Ever since Sunni rebels took down the Assad regime last weekend, the Israeli Air Force has been waging a massive air campaign against Syrian military targets to make sure they can’t be used against the Jewish state.
The operation has seen hundreds of IAF aircraft striking key Syrian military installations, severely damaging what was once one of the strongest air defense systems in the Middle East.
On Thursday, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said the Air Force has succeeded in destroying an estimated 90% of Syria’s strategically important surface-to-air missiles.
The IDF’s assault has targeted a wide array of enemy military assets, including fighter jets, combat helicopters, Scud missiles, drones, cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, radar systems and rockets.
The strikes have been particularly devastating for the Syrian Air Force, with the complete destruction of Sukhoi Su-22 and Sukhoi Su-24 aircraft squadrons at airfields such as the Tiyas Airbase (aka the T4 Airbase) in Homs Province, west of Palmyra, and the Marj Ruhayyil Airbase, south of Damascus.
The IDF has also struck major production and storage sites, including a facility in the Homs region that was central to Syria’s Scud missile project.
The navy has also played a significant role, with the Missile Ship Fleet (the 3rd Flotilla), the Israeli Navy’s main surface combat force, demonstrating enhanced capabilities in joint combat operations with the Air Force and Intelligence units.
“The 3rd Flotilla has been transformed, especially in terms of what it brings from the sea, but also in broader operational capabilities,” said OC Navy V. Adm. David Saar Salama. “It is now integrated within the IDF in a way we have hoped for and anticipated for many years, enabling joint combat operations with the Air Force, Intelligence, and even within the Navy itself.”
To secure the northeastern border, Israel has extended its reach beyond the 1974 demilitarized zone and sent ground troops to create a new buffer zone to secure the safety of the residents of the Golan Heights from attacks by rebel forces. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described this move as a “temporary defensive position,” necessitated by the abandonment of these areas by Syrian troops.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Friday that he had instructed the IDF to prepare for the possibility of remaining deployed atop the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, at the northern end of the Golan Heights, throughout the winter.
“Due to what is happening in Syria, there is a huge security importance to holding the Hermon peak and everything must be done to ensure the IDF’s readiness in the area, to allow the troops to stay in difficult weather conditions,” Katz said.
The move was decided during an assessment he held on Thursday with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi.
The international community has responded with caution to Israel’s actions. The G7 nations called to respect Syria’s territorial integrity and expressed support for U.N. peacekeepers in the region. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized the importance of close consultation with Israel regarding the situation in Syria.