Israel warns Iran: we are ready to strike you in Syria

Israel released satellite images yesterday of Iranian bases in Syria, a clear warning to its old enemy.

An Israeli F-15 fighter jet performs a rehearsal ahead of an air show to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the creation of Israel. Picture: AFP

Jerusalem: Israel released satellite images yesterday of Iranian bases in Syria, a clear warning to its old enemy as both are drawn deeper into the Syrian conflict.

The Israeli military said it ­believed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was planning to attack Israel in the coming days; retaliation for its strike on an Iranian drone base in Syria in the early hours of April 9 in which seven Iranians died.

Intelligence officers say that the attack could come today, to ­coincide with Israel’s 70th anniversary celebrations.

The release of satellite images was intended to signal to Iran that Israel knows the location of its elite expeditionary Quds Force bases in Syria and stands ready to strike.

Last week’s attack by the US, Britain and France on the Assad regime’s chemical weapons facilities, and US President Donald Trump’s determination to disengage, have stoked fears in Israel about the threats it could face from a Syria under the unchallenged control of Russia and Iran. Russia helped to turn the tide of the war in Bashar al-Assad’s favour with air power, but the dictator has relied on Iranian and Shia militias, as well as thousands of IRGC troops and advisers, to retake territory from rebels.

Israeli intelligence believes Iran is seeking to build its own independent infrastructure in Syria for asymmetric warfare against Israel, including drones and hi-tech tools that are harder to strike than conventional military sites.

A senior Israeli intelligence official said: “Despite all the diplomacy and warnings, the Iranians are still going to try to build their permanent bases in Syria and so far, we don’t see (Vladimir) Putin trying very hard to stop them.

“Russia needs the Iranians to supply boots on the ground. As for the US, we have yet to see a clear policy from the Trump administration on the Syrian issue.”

Amos Yadlin, former head of Israeli Military Intelligence, said: “This latest development didn’t suddenly happen. It’s a result of the Iranians’ resolve to entrench in Syria and Israel is determined to prevent that from happening. That’s why these two normally risk-averse powers are now close to confrontation. It’s not inevitable because Putin has an interest in stabilising Syria and he can try to defuse the situation.”

Israel has stated repeatedly, and publicly, that it will not allow Iran to establish bases in Syria that could threaten it. Intelligence officers believe that in addition to the drone operations, the IRGC is working with Syria to enhance its defences against Israeli aircraft and provide protection for Iran’s new bases.

Israel has not publicly admitted to the strike on April 9, which came a day after the suspected chemical attack on Syrian rebels in Douma. However, the White House said Israel had told it of the attack — the latest of about 100 strikes in Syria credited to Israel — before it happened. An Israeli military official told The New York Times that the strike marked “the first time we attacked live Iranian targets, both facilities and people”.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel’s target was an advanced air defence system the Iranians were trying to install.

Israel and Iran have been enemies for nearly four decades, since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, but most confrontations have been fought by Iran’s proxies in the region, such as Hezbollah. That changed in February when Israel shot down an Iranian drone said to be carrying explosives from Syria after it entered Israeli ­airspace.

The Times