Israel launched a significant airstrike near Russia’s Hmeimim Airbase in Syria, marking an escalation in the ongoing regional tensions, according to reports on social media. The strikes targeted an ammunition warehouse close to the city of Jablah in Latakia province, a site within the vicinity of the largest Russian military installation in Syria. This area is strategically important due to its use by Russian forces and alleged Iranian-backed groups, including Hezbollah.
BREAKING:
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 3, 2024
Israel has struck a Russian air base in Syria for the first time.
Israel attacked warehouses of the Russian Khmeimim Air Base shortly after an Iranian plane unloaded its weapons for Hezbollah.
Russian air defenses tried intercepting the Israeli missiles but failed pic.twitter.com/ffCxVTXtnV
The attack, which occurred early in the morning, lasted about 40 minutes, with multiple waves of missiles being launched from Israeli naval ships and warplanes. Syrian and Russian air defense systems, including the advanced S-400 and S-300V4 systems, were activated to intercept the incoming projectiles. Reports suggest that several missiles were intercepted, but the strikes still managed to hit their targets, causing extensive damage to the ammunition depot, leading to massive explosions audible across the region. It is still unclear whether the warehouse was solely under Russian control or used by Iranian forces to supply Hezbollah.
Israel has been conducting similar operations for years, primarily aimed at reducing Iranian influence in Syria and preventing the transfer of advanced weaponry to Hezbollah. However, this latest strike has garnered particular attention because of its proximity to the Hmeimim Airbase, which is central to Russia’s military operations in Syria. While the airbase itself, including its runways and control towers, did not appear to be directly targeted, the strike’s proximity has raised concerns about the broader implications of such actions, especially given Russia’s vested military interests in the region.
Syrian state media has condemned the strike, framing it as an aggressive violation of Syrian sovereignty. The Syrian Foreign Ministry issued a strong statement, urging the international community and the United Nations to take action against Israel’s continued air raids. Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports suggested that this airbase has been used recently by the Iranian Quds Force, heightening speculation that Israel’s strike aimed to disrupt Iranian operations and arms deliveries.
In the broader context, this strike forms part of Israel’s ongoing regional campaign, which includes airstrikes not only in Syria but also in Lebanon and Gaza. Israeli forces have been actively targeting sites they believe are linked to Hezbollah and other Iran-aligned militias. The incident also comes just days after Israel conducted a separate strike in the Mezzeh neighborhood of Damascus, killing civilians, and amid ongoing clashes between Israeli and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.
This latest strike has further strained the already fragile dynamics in the region. Although Russian air defense systems have not yet been used directly to intercept Israeli aircraft, they have been providing targeting data to Syrian forces, enhancing their response capabilities. Any direct confrontation between Israeli forces and Russian military assets would represent a significant escalation in the conflict.