January 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrike

The January 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrike was an aerial attack in the Rif Dimashq Governorate of Syria, which targeted a convoy alleged to be carrying weapons from Syria to the Lebanese Shi'a militia Hezbollah.[3] The convoy was attacked on 31 January 2013. According to several media sources, Israeli forces allegedly conducted the strike, however Israel hasn't officially responded to the allegations.[4]

January 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrike
Part of Hezbollah involvement in the Syrian Civil War
Rif Dimashq Governorate in Syria (red)
ObjectiveDestroy a weapons convoy carrying Soviet/Russian-made SA-17 anti-aircraft missiles to Hezbollah
Date31 January 2013 (2013-01-31)
Executed byAlleged Israeli Air Force involvement
OutcomeDestruction of anti-aircraft missiles destined for Hezbollah and collateral damage to nearby research center on biological and chemical weapons[1]
Casualties2 people killed (official Syrian report)[2]

The convoy was attacked while parked at a facility of the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center, Syria's main research center on biological and chemical weapons, at Jamraya, several miles northwest of the Syrian capital of Damascus. In addition to Russian-made SA-17 anti-aircraft missiles, secondary explosions from the attacked munitions also damaged a building of the Scientific Studies and Research Center.[1][5][6][7] Satellite images taken a few days after the attack showed a scorched and blackened parking lot at the center, where the arms convoy was apparently hit.[8]

Israel did not officially confirm responsibility for the bombing, but Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak suggested that it could have been behind the attack, saying on 3 February, "I cannot add anything to what you've read in the newspapers about what happened in Syria several days ago, but I keep telling, frankly, that we've said – and that's another proof that when we say something we mean it – we say that we don't think that it should be allowable to bring advanced weapon systems into Lebanon."[9]

Background

The attack on January 2013 was reportedly part of Israel's efforts to stem the flow of sophisticated weapons from Iran and Syria to Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shi'a Islamic militant group and political party that is designated a terrorist organization by some countries. Israel's newly re-elected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reported to have notified the United States and Russia of the impending attack a few days beforehand.[10]

Despite the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 from 2006 which called for an embargo on arms shipments to Lebanon, Hezbollah has reportedly continued to arm itself with assistance from Iran and Syria. Those weapons include, according to reports, Scud D surface-to-surface missiles originating in North Korea, with a range of 700 kilometres (430 mi).[10]

This was the first attack in Syria, in which Israel was accused, since Operation Orchard in 2007, when Israeli jets destroyed an unfinished Syrian nuclear facility.[11]

The raid
SA-17 surface-to-air missile system, similar to the one allegedly targeted by the attack
SA-8 surface-to-air missile system, similar to ones shown on a Syrian television footage broadcast

The attack consisted of about ten jets, flying from the Mediterranean over southern Lebanon. The jets were tracked by both NATO and Lebanese radars. An early report said some planes crossed into Syria, fired eight missiles at their target, and then flew back over the Mediterranean.[12] It was later reported that the warplanes did not enter Syrian airspace, but launched the attack from Lebanese airspace.[13]

Hussam Hush Nawis (also known as Hassan Shateri), a senior commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, was supervising a shipment of weapons and rockets to Lebanon and was killed in the airstrike, according to a Free Syrian Army spokesman. Several of his aides were also killed, but their deaths were not reported due to "the consequences" of such a disclosure.[14]

Syria maintained that Israel had bombed a "scientific research center" at Jamraya, several miles northwest of Damascus, and Syria’s ambassador to Lebanon said Syria had the option of retaliating against Israel.[6][15] According to a security analyst, Amir Rapaport, footage broadcast on Syrian television showed a damaged armored vehicle that seemed to belong to the SA-8 missile system. He speculated that the vehicle may have been placed on the scene after the attack, because Syria had guaranteed the Russians not to transfer the more advanced SA-17 system to Lebanon.[7]

Reactions
  •  Israel: Boaz Ganor, director of the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, warned that if Syria’s weapons falls into the hands of jihadist groups like al-Qaeda, that would be a global threat.[15]
  •  Russia: "If this information is confirmed, then we are dealing with the unprovoked attacks on targets on the territory of a sovereign country, which blatantly violates the UN Charter and is unacceptable, no matter what the motives were to justify it."[16]
  •  Iran: Minister of foreign affairs Ali Akbar Salehi condemned the alleged air strike as an "overt assault based on the West's policy" to undermine stability in Syria. "The Zionists got ahead of themselves in trying to cover up the successes of the Syrian government and nation in maintaining the existing government and restoring stability and security". Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said the raid would have "grave consequences for Tel Aviv".[16]

Aftermath
Main article: May 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrikes

Additional air strikes in Rif Dimashq in Syria reportedly took place on 3 and 5 May 2013. According to Jerusalem Post, the attacks targeted accurate short-range Fateh-110 surface-to-surface missiles destined for Hezbollah from Iran.[17][18] Israeli politician Tzachi Hanegbi made a statement to Israel Radio that if any raids were made, those were "only against Hezbollah, not against the Syrian regime" without explicitly admitting Israel made the strikes.[19] The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that rebel forces claimed that other targets were destroyed during the strike on the airbase, including fuel and ammunition depots and a cargo plane that had arrived from Iran.[20][21]

However, according to Abdulkader Saleh, a commander in the Free Syrian Army, opposition forces were about to receive a transfer of weapons with the help of several pro-rebel high ranking Syrian officials when Israel attacked to prevent this from occurring. Saleh stated: "This assault, of course, was intended to support the Assad administration".[22]

According to anonymous US officials, Israel allegedly launched another airstrike on 5 July 2013. It targeted Russian-made Yakhont anti-ship missiles near the city of Latakia, and killed several Syrian troops.[23] Hezbollah's Al-Manar claimed that the explosions were caused by "stray mortars" from "local clashes."[24]

See also

References
  1. Ernesto Londoño and Joby Warrick, Israeli airstrike in Syria targeted a shipment of weapons, 2 U.S. officials say. Washington Post. 4 February 2013.
  2. "Syrian media say the attack outside Damascus killed two people."
  3. "Israel strikes Syrian weapons en route to Hezbollah". The Jerusalem Post. 30 January 2013.
  4. "Israeli officials declined to comment on the reports."
  5. Assad fumes as Israel admits Syria air strike. The Express Tribune. 4 February 2013.
  6. Israeli raid in Syria reportedly damaged research site. The Times of Israel. 4 February 2013.
  7. Sanger, David E.; Schmitt, Eric; Rudoren, Jodi (3 February 2013). "Israeli strike into Syria said to damage research site". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  8. Image indicates Syria building unscathed by Israel strike. Reuters. 6 February 2013
  9. "Israeli defense minister suggests role in Syria airstrike". CNN. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  10. "Israel's attack on Syria part of clandestine war against Hezbollah". The Vancouver Sun. 1 February 2013.
  11. "What we know about the Israeli air strike in Syria". Washington Post. 30 January 2013.
  12. Syrian rebel raids expose secrets of once-feared military, The Guardian, 4 February 2013. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  13. Barnett, David (28 April 2013). "Israeli Air Force struck SSRC facility without entering Syrian airspace". Long War Journal. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  14. "Rebels: Iranian official killed in airstrike on Syria". Ynetnews. 14 February 2013.
  15. Anne Barnard and Jodi Rudoren. "Syria says it has right to counterattack Israel". The New York Times. 31 January 2013.
  16. "Russia concern at Israeli 'air strike' on Syria". BBC News. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  17. "'IAF strike in Syria targeted arms from Iran'". Jerusalem Post. 4 May 2013.
  18. Cohen, Gili (5 May 2013). "'Israel overnight strike targeted Iranian missile shipment meant for Hezbollah'". Ha'aretz. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  19. Williams, Dan (6 May 2013). "Israel to Assad: air strikes did not aim to help Syria rebels". Reuters. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  20. Scott, David Clark (4 May 2013). "Why Israel bombed Syria, again". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  21. Bar'el, Zvi (4 May 2013). "Syrian opposition claims IAF strike targeted Damascus airport". Haaretz. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  22. 'Israel, Hezbollah, Iran are working with Assad', by JPOST.COM, dated 13 May 2013.
  23. "Report: Israel behind recent strike on Syria missile depot, U.S. officials say". Haaretz. 12 July 2013.
  24. Mysterious explosion hits Assad munitions cache in Latakia". Ynetnews. 6 July 2013.

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