Israel claims major blow to Syrian defense, fears Hezbollah gain
The Israel Defense Forces claim they have already destroyed most of the anti-aircraft systems that belonged to Bashar al-Assad's regime. In massive airstrikes, targets also included Syrian weapons factories, chemical weapons production sites, as well as aircraft and warships.
According to the Israeli command, weapons from this country mired in chaos that are not destroyed could end up in the hands of Lebanese Hezbollah. An official communication states that the Israeli air force has eliminated about 85 percent of the air defense systems of the toppled Assad regime in Syria, including 107 defense components and 47 radars.
Israel destroys Syrian anti-aircraft systems
Among the attacked and destroyed systems were Russian Buk and Pantsir-S1, which were considered significant challenges for the Israeli air force. According to the communiqué, the Syrian anti-aircraft defense was one of the strongest in the region, and its neutralization represents a significant achievement for Israeli forces.
Pantsir-S1 (SA-22 Greyhound in NATO code) is one of the most modern air defense systems in the world. These systems began entering service only in the 1990s. They use 57E6 or 57E6-E missiles, which allow neutralizing targets located up to 12 miles away and moving at altitudes of up to 9 miles.
Syrian aviation also targeted
The massive bombing campaign by Israel, which began a few hours after Assad's downfall, included Syrian air bases, weapons depots, factories, and chemical weapons production sites.
As a result of this offensive, a significant portion of Syrian aviation was also destroyed. Confirmed losses include 27 fighter jets, including Su-22s and Su-24s, and 24 helicopters. There are also recordings of attacks. Additionally, the Israeli navy reported sinking 15 Syrian warships.
The heads of the Israeli army assessed that the military potential of Assad's regime has not yet been completely destroyed. They noted that there is a real threat that the Iranian-backed organization Hezbollah will try to take over all available modern weapons. To prevent such actions, the Israeli air force carried out bombings of most border crossings between Syria and Lebanon, leaving one open. At the same time, the Israeli army continuously monitors the bombed areas to ensure that Hezbollah does not attempt to use them again, as reported by the Times of Israel.
