Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reportedly destroyed several military and air bases abandoned by the ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s forces, which Turkey had been eyeing to occupy with the help of the country’s new Islamist regime.
Israeli fighter jets hit at least three Syrian air bases in devastating strikes. “Turkey scoped out at least three air bases in Syria where it could deploy forces as part of a planned joint defence pact before Israel hit the sites with air strikes this week,” Reuters reported Friday citing sources.
Recep Erdoğan’s regime has been hoping to set up forward military and airbases in Syria after pro-Turkey jihadists took power after toppling dictator Bashar al-Assad in December. The presence of Hamas-friendly Turkish forces poses a security threat to Israel which shares its northern border with Syria.
“Ankara, a longtime backer of opposition to Assad, is positioning to play a major role in the remade Syria, including with a possible joint defence pact that could see new Turkish bases in central Syria and use of Syria’s airspace,” the news agency added.
Syria’s largest Tiyas air base, also known as T4, was completely destroyed in the latest strikes, the country’s new regime disclosed. “On Wednesday night, Israel bombed several military targets in Syria, including two airports – Hama military airport and the T4 base near Homs,” the BBC reported Friday. “Syria’s foreign ministry said the bombardment virtually destroyed the Hama base.”
The Israel airstrikes inside Syria were “intended to prevent a planned Turkish takeover of the targeted area,” Israeli news website Arutz Sheva reported Saturday:
The targeted locations included the T4 and Palmyra air bases in Homs province, as well as the main airport in Hama province—sites Turkey had considered using under a proposed joint defense framework aimed at increasing its presence in central Syria, said the report. (…)Turkish teams had previously assessed the condition of runways, hangars, and operational infrastructure at the targeted sites, according to the same official, two Syrian military sources, and another Syrian source familiar with the visits. All sources spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information.Turkey’s Defense Ministry responded to inquiries by stating, “Reports and posts regarding developments in Syria—whether real or alleged—that do not originate from official authorities should not be taken into consideration, as they lack credibility and may be misleading.”Syria’s defense ministry did not issue a statement.Security sources in Israel said on Thursday that the IDF strikes in Syria were intended to prevent a planned Turkish takeover of the targeted area.
The IDF special forces also raided military bases abandoned by the deposed Iran-backed Assad regime. “This week, the IDF’s Paratroopers Brigade raided an army post belonging to the former Syrian regime, where the soldiers located tanks, APCs, and artillery systems, the military says,” The Times of Israel reported Sunday.
The covert operation was carried out to prevent these weapons stockpiles from ending up in the hands of Syria-based jihadists and other terrorist groups. Besides Iran, Assad’s Syria had some of the most advanced Russian-made military and air defense systems in the Middle East.
“Troops have been operating in areas up to around 15 kilometers deep into Syria, aiming to capture weapons that Israel says could pose a threat to the country if they fall into the hands of “hostile forces”,” the Israeli news website disclosed, quoting military sources.
There are media reports of Syrian Islamist militia clashing with Israeli special forces, but apparently with little success:
The revelations come as the IDF carries out massive airstrikes on terrorist targets on multiple fronts. “Israel’s air force attacked approximately 200 targets in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon in the last two days, the military said on Friday,” the Israeli TV channel i24NEWS reported. “In Gaza, the Air Force attacked 160 terrorist targets, including: thwarting terrorists, terrorist infrastructure, tunnels and headquarters, while providing close assistance to forces that began ground operations in Rafah and Shajaiyah.”
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