2024 Masyaf raid

2024 Masyaf raid
2024 Masyaf raid
Part of the Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–2024), the Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war and the Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)
Type	Raid, airstrikes
Location	Masyaf, Syria; 35°2′39″N 36°19′17″E / 35.04417°N 36.32139°E
Target	Underground Iranian missile manufacturing plant in Syria
Date	8 September 2024
Executed by	Israeli Air Force Unit 5101 "Shaldag";
Outcome	Successful destruction of the plant
Casualties	18–27 (including 6 civilians) killed; 32–37 injured

On 8 September 2024, in an operation called Operation Many Ways (Hebrew: מבצע רבות הדרכים), Israeli special forces raided an underground missile production facility at a branch of Syria's Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC) near Masyaf in the country's northwest. The raid was covered by airstrikes that killed at least eighteen people according to state media.^[1]^[2] The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said that 27 people were killed.^[3]

The targeted facility was used by Iran to supply precision-guided missiles to its allies, including the Syrian government and Lebanese Hezbollah. The raid was carried out by commandos from the Israeli Air Force's (IAF) elite Shaldag Unit. In a nearly three-hour operation, the commandos landed at the site by helicopter, where they raided the facility and planted explosives inside. After they left, the explosives were detonated, destroying the facility. The operation is regarded as one of Israel's most complex in its history.^[4]

The raid was initially reported by The New York Times and Axios in September 2024, citing Western officials.^[5]^[6] It was confirmed by Israel in January 2025.^[7]

The SOHR and Western intelligence agencies had previously identified the SSRC as responsible for Syrian chemical weapons and missile development programs.^[2]^[3] The former also claimed that Iranian Revolutionary Guards officers had been stationed at the site for the last six years, which Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani refused to confirm or deny.^[3] The Israeli operation was reportedly planned as a ground raid after airstrikes over the preceding years had pushed Hezbollah and Iran—involved in a long-running conflict with Israel that has intenfisied amid the Gaza war—to move their operations underground.^[3]^[5]

^ "At least 16 people are killed in airstrikes in Syria, state media reports". The New York Times. 9 September 2024. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ ^a ^b Marsi, Stephen Quillen,Federica (12 September 2024). "Israeli air strike kills 2 in southern Syria: War monitor". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024. The attack comes days after raids blamed on Israel killed 18 people in the central province of Hama, according to Syrian authorities. The Syrian Observatory said those strikes killed 27 people, including six civilians, and targeted a "scientific research area" and other sites in the province's Masyaf area.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gritten, David (9 September 2024). "Israeli strikes on Syrian military sites kill 18, health minister says". BBC. Archived from the original on 1 January 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b Ravid, Barak (12 September 2024). "Israel destroyed reported Iranian underground missile factory in Syria ground raid". Axios. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
^ Cooper, Helene; Schmitt, Eric; Barnes, Julian; Bergman, Ronen (12 September 2024). "Israeli Commandos Carried Out Raid on Secret Weapons Site in Syria". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] "At least 16 people are killed in airstrikes in Syria, state media reports". The New York Times. 9 September 2024. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.

[:0-2] Marsi, Stephen Quillen,Federica (12 September 2024). "Israeli air strike kills 2 in southern Syria: War monitor". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024. The attack comes days after raids blamed on Israel killed 18 people in the central province of Hama, according to Syrian authorities. The Syrian Observatory said those strikes killed 27 people, including six civilians, and targeted a "scientific research area" and other sites in the province's Masyaf area.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[BBC-3] Gritten, David (9 September 2024). "Israeli strikes on Syrian military sites kill 18, health minister says". BBC. Archived from the original on 1 January 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2024.

[:6-4] Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:1-5] Ravid, Barak (12 September 2024). "Israel destroyed reported Iranian underground missile factory in Syria ground raid". Axios. Retrieved 13 September 2024.

[6] Cooper, Helene; Schmitt, Eric; Barnes, Julian; Bergman, Ronen (12 September 2024). "Israeli Commandos Carried Out Raid on Secret Weapons Site in Syria". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.

[:4-7] Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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