More Than Two Dozen Israeli Attacks Targeted Syria This Year So Far

An Israeli F-16 fighter jet en route to an exercise in Germany in an undated photograph. (Israel Defense Forces)

Israel stepped up its military operations against Syria this year, launching more than two dozen attacks on the war-torn country.

So far, there have been at least 26 confirmed Israeli attacks on Syria’s southern, western, central and northern regions. Military bases, research centers and civilian facilities were targeted during the attacks, which claimed the lives of many Syrian service members and civilians.

The main targets of the Israeli attacks were in most cases Iranian weapons shipments meant for Hezbollah in Lebanon, or facilities were such weapons are being made.

At least 23 out of Israel’s 26 attacks on Syria caused casualties or heavy material losses. These attacks took place as follows:

• On January 31, a series of Israeli strikes hit several positions in the outskirts of the capital, Damascus, causing material losses only.
• On February 8, another attack targeted Damascus. Only material losses were reported. After the attack, rocket sirens sounded in and near​ Umm al-Fahm​ in northern Israel. The Israeli military said that an anti-aircraft missile fired from Syria exploded mid-air and set off the sirens.
• On February 17, Israel attacked targets in the southern outskirts of Damascus with precision-guided ground-to-ground missiles, causing material damage but no casualties.
• On February 23,​ Israeli ground-to-ground missiles targeted the towns of Madinat al-Baath and Rwihinah in Quneitra, causing material damage only.
• On February 24, three Syrian soldiers were killed as a result of Israeli airstrikes on the outskirts of Damascus. Material losses were also reported.
• On March 7, two people were killed during Israeli airstrikes on the outskirts of Damascus, that also caused some material losses.
• On April 9, Israel carried out daylight airstrikes on key facilities in Hama. Heavy material losses were reported after the airstrikes.
• On April 14 and 27, Israel carried out airstrikes on the outskirts of Damascus. Material losses were reported after both attacks.
• On May 11, Israel launched four missiles at a position​ in Quneitra close to the frontline in the Golan Heights. Only material losses were reported back then.
• On May 13,​ five people were killed and seven others were wounded during Israeli airstrikes on Hama. The attack targeted a facility belonging to the Scientific Studies and Research Center and thought to be used as a base for Iranian forces.
• On May 20, three Syrian service members were killed when Israel fired ground-to-ground missiles at the outskirts of Damascus.
• On June 6, Israeli airstrikes hit​ targets in the southern outskirts of Damascus and near the Damascus International Airport, causing damage to several positions.
• On June 10, a series of Israeli airstrikes hit the southern outskirts of Damascus again, causing material damage and wounding at least one person.
• On July 2, Israeli fighter jets carried out a daytime airstrike at the town of al-Hamidiyah, south of Tartus. Only material losses were reported at the time.
• On July 6, a Syrian pro-government fighter, who allegedly worked with Hezbollah, was killed by an Israeli drone strike near the frontline in Quneitra.
• On July 22, Israeli airstrikes hit military bases in the outskirts of Damascus, killing three Syrian service members and wounding others. A temporary storage warehouse of Iranian forces was also targeted.
• On August 14, Israeli fighter jets attacked targets in Tartus and Damascus, killing three Syrian service members and wounding three others.
• On August 25, Israel carried out airstrikes on key facilities in Hama, again. Two civilians were wounded. Photos and videos showed large plumes of smoke and prolonged secondary explosions at the targeted facilities.
• On August 31, Israel carried out two consecutive airstrikes against Aleppo International Airport and Damascus International Airport. A sanctioned Iranian cargo plane reportedly landed at Aleppo airport earlier in the day.
• On September 6, Israeli fighter jets attacked Aleppo International Airport, taking it out of service for the second time in less than a week.
• On September 17, Israeli airstrikes hit Damascus International Airport and other positions south of the Syrian capital, causing material damage and killing five service members.
• On October 21, a series of Israeli airstrikes targeted two bases in the western outskirts of Damascus as well as the international airport to the south of the capital. The airstrikes resulted in material losses only.

Syrian air defenses were activated during most of the attacks. In some cases, more than two dozen munitions were used by Israel to hit a few targets. Despite of this, many Israeli glide bombs, cruise missiles and ground-to-ground missiles were successfully intercepted.

While the Israeli airstrikes inflicted some human and material losses, they failed to damage the alliance between Syria, Iran and Hezbollah.

Israel hopes that its attacks on Syria could eventually dive Damascus away from Tehran and push Iranian forces and Hezbollah out from the war-torn country. However, in reality these attacks are only brining the members of the so-called “Axis of Resistance” closers. Despite this, Tel Aviv will likely continue to escalate its attacks.

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