On September 8, 2024, Shaldag (Air force Commando unit) fighters went on a special operation deep in enemy territory. They raided and destroyed an underground site for the production of precision missiles in the Masyaf area in deep Syria. Now details and documentation of the daring activity are being revealed.
For years, the Intelligence Division carried out continuous intelligence collection and surveillance that clarified the target's values. In the months preceding the operation, a plan was launched to destroy it using Air Force forces.
The fighters landed in the area by helicopters, accompanied by a fire envelope and collection by aircraft, fighter jets and naval ships. The target of the raid was an underground site deep in Syrian territory that was built with Iranian funding and support.
The site was a flagship project of Iran in its effort to arm its proxies on the northern border of the State of Israel. The complex included advanced production lines designed to produce precision missiles and long-range rockets, thereby significantly increasing the scope of missile supplies to Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies in the region.
A few minutes before landing on Syrian soil, a preemptive strike was made on the surface-to-surface missile (SGM) production site and security facilities nearby were destroyed. The helicopters, carrying more than 100 Kingfisher fighters, landed about 700 meters from the target. After the hostile forces were neutralized, the road into the corridors and rooms dug into the mountain was paved.
The production site, the construction of which began by the end of 2017, was specially carved into the heart of the mountain. Between the ravines they created a wadi about 100 meters deep, at the bottom of which is located the facility, which is built in the shape of a horseshoe with two main exits. The complex included advanced production lines designed to produce precision missiles and long-range rockets, thereby significantly increasing the scope of missile supplies to Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies in the region.
Thanks to the geographical structure and terrain, the air forces were able to quickly isolate the area, and prevent Hostile intervention. Soon, the doors were broken open and the fighters rushed to drop the large amount of ammunition they were carrying inside the rooms. The 300 kilograms of explosives, together with the weight of the hostile ammunition on site, amounted to one ton.
As part of the operation, the fighters reached critical machinery for the production process of precision missiles, including a planetary mixer, numerous weapons, and intelligence documents that were transferred for investigation.
With the powerful explosion that destroyed the site and was felt like an earthquake, the fighters took the escape route towards the aircraft that were waiting for them with the backup of 669 and additional air forces, at the drop-off point.
"In the midst of this justified war, there was an event here that was essential to the existence of the state," said Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar. "Now that we are on the ground in peace with the accomplishment of the mission, we can be proud, we can tell future generations that we did a significant deed for Israel's security."
"What you destroyed there would have cost us the lives of many Israeli civilians," he told the fighters upon their safe return to the country.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the operation in Syria:
I salute our heroic fighters for the bold and successful operation deep inside Syria. This is one of the important countermeasures we have taken against the Iranian axis' attempts to arm itself to harm us, and it testifies to our determination and courage to act everywhere to defend ourselves.
