Syria Turning into Battlefield for Iran-Israel Conflict

AFP/ FOTO STR

A picture taken early on January 21, 2019 shows Syrian air defence batteries responding to what the Syrian state media said were Israeli missiles targeting Damascus. - Israel struck what it said were Iranian targets in Syria today in response to rocket fire it blamed on Iran, sparking concerns of an escalation after a monitor reported 11 fighters killed. Israel openly claimed responsibility for the strikes against facilities it said belonged to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards\' Quds Force, continuing its recent practice of speaking more openly about such raids.

CAIRO, KOMPAS -- The night sky over Damascus, Syria, was set ablaze by an aerial battle involving Israeli missiles and a Syrian missile defense system from Sunday night to early Monday (20-21/1/2019). This was Israel’s biggest aerial assault against an Iranian military installation around Damascus since Syria accepted Russia’s S-300 advanced missile defense system in October.

Damascus has provided no report for casualties or damages in Israel’s assault. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which uses a network of activists to monitor the Syrian conflict, reported 11 casualties. Russia, a close ally of Syria, reported that four Syrian soldiers died and six others were injured in the attack.

Iran said that Israel’s aerial assault was part of the two countries’ open military conflict in Syria. Iranian Air Force commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh said as quoted by Al Jazeera TV station that Iran was ready to go to war with Israel and face the worst possible outcome.

The threat of an open war between the two mortal enemies, namely Iran and Israel, has long overshadowed the conflict in Syria. Iranian military forces have been present in Syria since the conflict first erupted almost eight years ago to show the country’s support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The presence of Iran and Lebanese militia group Hezbollah has been seen as the greatest threat for Israel.

Nearing the mid-term election in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration is mulling the plan for increased open attacks in Syria. Israel has increased its assaults on Syria in the month after US President Donald Trump announced his plan to pull back 2,000 US soldiers from Syria.

Massive attack

In the attack on Syria, Israeli fighter jets were positioned over Galilee in northern Israel and in Lebanon to avoid Damascus’ S-300 missile defense system. As of Monday, Israeli fighter jets were still flying in an apparent show of force over Galilee and the Golan Heights.

Israel announced that Mt. Hermon – or Mt. Al-Sheikh, as it is known in Syria – in the Golan Heights was closed to tourists and all skiing activities. Israeli authorities also warned residents of the Golan Heights to exercise extra caution in the coming days.

In the face of massive missile assaults by Israeli fighter jets, Syria retaliated with its artillery of surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). On Sunday evening, Syrian authorities ordered a commercial aircraft operated by Iran’s Mahan Air not to land at Damascus

International Airport and to turn back to Iranian airspace instead due to escalated fighting near the airport.

The Russian military airbase in Khmeimim, near Latakia, said that Israel’s attacks had destroyed parts of Damascus International Airport. It was also reported that the Syrian missile defense system had intercepted and destroyed 30 cruise missiles and smart munitions launched by Israeli fighter jets.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said as quoted by The Jerusalem Post on Monday that the Israeli military was targeting a military installation operated by the Iranian elite Quds force in Syria. The Quds force is an elite wing of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) directed to carry out unconventional warfare on foreign soil.

IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari said as quoted by Iranian news agency Mehr that the Israeli attacks so far had been ridiculous. He added that Iran would keep its military advisors in Syria.