Israel doubles air strikes on Iranian targets in Syria under new cabinet
▶ Attacks aimed to prevent IRGC from establishing itself at border, Defence Minister Gallant says
The number of Israeli strikes on Iranian targets in Syria has doubled since the current government took office at the end of last year, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has said.
The attacks aim to damage Iran’s intelligence capabilities and prevent the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps becoming established near the border, Mr Gallant told a security conference on Monday.
Mr Gallant did not say how many strikes have been conducted in what were rare comments on Israeli military activity in Syria.
“Since I took office, the number of Israeli strikes against the Iranians in Syria has doubled,” he said.
“As part of this campaign, we are working methodically to strike the Iranian intelligence capabilities in Syria.
“These strikes inflict significant damage to the attempts by the Revolutionary Guard to establish a foothold a few kilometres from the Israeli border.”
Israel’s military chief Lt Gen Herzi Halevi also spoke yesterday at the conference organised by the Institute for Policy and Strategy of Reichman University. “Negative events” in Iran’s nuclear programme could “prompt action” from Israel, Lt Gen Halevi said.
Israel had good options in the event of a confrontation with Iran, he said.
“We need to strengthen them more so that we can carry out a broad campaign against Iran,” he said.
His warnings came after AP reported that a new nuclear facility in Iran’s Zagros Mountains might be too deep for a special US bomb to penetrate.
The GBU-57 bunker-buster weapon, also known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, can push 60 metres into the ground before detonation, the US military says.
The US and Israel have previously said they would not allow Iran to create a nuclear weapon.
On Monday, Mr Gallant accused Iran of converting civilian ships into military vessels with intelligence-gathering capabilities and weapons such as drones and missiles.
He said Tehran hopes to station these ships to broaden its influence. “Iran aims to expand its reach to the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and even the shores of the Mediterranean,” he said.
“This is a structured plan designed to threaten trade and flight routes – both military and civilian – and to create a permanent threat in the maritime arena.”
Mr Gallant’s comments came on the same day that the head of Israel’s military intelligence said that an emboldened Hezbollah – the Lebanese armed organisation widely viewed as an Iranian proxy – risks sparking a regional conflict.
Aharon Haliva said chances of a serious escalation between Israel and Hezbollah were increasing.
In April, Israel accused a faction of the Palestinian militant group Hamas based in Lebanon of firing rockets into Israeli territory.
Israel responded with strikes in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
Iran is considered by Israel to be its greatest enemy, as Tehran often calls for Israel’s destruction and supports extremist groups across the region.
Israel also accuses Iran of trying to develop a nuclear bomb, which it denies, saying its enrichment programme is for peaceful purposes.
Israeli officials have acknowledged carrying out hundreds of strikes against Iranian targets in Syria, where Tehran has sent advisers and forces to assist President Bashar Al Assad in the country’s 12-year civil war. But officials have given few details over the years and almost never comment on specific operations.
The far-right Israeli coalition government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took office in December.
Hardline ministers in Mr Netanyahu’s coalition have previously voiced anger at the Prime Minister over what they perceive to be his weak response to security threats.
Earlier this month, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir boycotted a weekly cabinet meeting over “unacceptable” decisions.
He called on Mr Netanyahu to “shift to a fully rightwing policy”.
Mr Gallant accused Iran of converting civilian ships into military vessels with intelligence-gathering capabilities and weapons