January 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrike

January 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrike
Part of Hezbollah involvement in the Syrian Civil War

Rif Dimashq Governorate in Syria (red)
Objective Destroy a weapons convoy carrying Soviet/Russian-made SA-17 anti-aircraft missiles to Hezbollah
Date January 31, 2013 (2013-01-31)
Executed by Alleged Israeli Air Force involvement
Outcome Destruction of anti-aircraft missiles destined for Hezbollah and collateral damage to nearby research center on biological and chemical weapons[1]
Casualties 2 people killed (official Syrian report)[2]

The January 2013 Rif Dimashq airstrike was an aerial attack in the Rif Dimashq Governorate of Syria, made on a convoy, that was believed to be carrying advanced anti-aircraft weaponry from Syria to the Lebanese Shi'a militia Hezbollah. The convoy was attacked on January 31, 2013. According to several media sources, Israeli forces allegedly conducted the strike, however Israel hasn't officially responded to the allegations.[3]

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][4][5][6] 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.[7]

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."[8]

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.[9]

The attack came three weeks after the reported interception of a vessel carrying anti-aircraft missiles[10] and munitions for Hezbollah by the Israeli Navy. The vessel was reportedly stopped in the Red Sea, and its crew of four was arrested.

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).[9]

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.[5][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.[6]

Reactions

Aftermath

Additional air strikes in Rif Dimashq in Syria reportedly took place on May 3 and 5, 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. 1 2 Ernesto Londoño and Joby Warrick, Israeli airstrike in Syria targeted a shipment of weapons, 2 U.S. officials say. Washington Post. February 4, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Syrian media say the attack outside Damascus killed two people."
  3. ↑ "Israeli officials declined to comment on the reports."
  4. ↑ Assad fumes as Israel admits Syria air strike. The Express Tribune. February 4, 2013.
  5. 1 2 Israeli raid in Syria reportedly damaged research site. The Times Of Israel. February 4, 2013.
  6. 1 2 Sanger, David E.; Schmitt, Eric; Rudoren, Jodi (February 3, 2013). "Israeli strike into Syria said to damage research site". The New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  7. ↑ Image indicates Syria building unscathed by Israel strike. Reuters. February 6, 2013
  8. ↑ "Israeli defense minister suggests role in Syria airstrike". CNN. February 4, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  9. 1 2 "Israel's attack on Syria part of clandestine war against Hezbollah". The Vancouver Sun. February 1, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Israeli navy intercepts ship carrying advanced weaponry". WND. January 30, 2013.
  11. ↑ "What we know about the Israeli air strike in Syria". Washington Post. January 30, 2013.
  12. ↑ Syrian rebel raids expose secrets of once-feared military, The Guardian, 2013-02-04. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  13. ↑ Barnett, David (April 28, 2013). "Israeli Air Force struck SSRC facility without entering Syrian airspace". Long War Journal. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Rebels: Iranian official killed in airstrike on Syria". Ynetnews. February 14, 2013.
  15. 1 2 Anne Barnard and Jodi Rudoren. "Syria says it has right to counterattack Israel". The New York Times. January 31, 2013.
  16. 1 2 "Russia concern at Israeli 'air strike' on Syria". BBC News. 31 Jan 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  17. ↑ "'IAF strike in Syria targeted arms from Iran'". Jerusalem Post. May 4, 2013.
  18. ↑ Cohen, Gili (May 5, 2013). "'Israel overnight strike targeted Iranian missile shipment meant for Hezbollah'". Ha'aretz. Retrieved May 5, 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.

Coordinates: 33°34′20.70″N 36°14′27″E / 33.5724167°N 36.24083°E / 33.5724167; 36.24083

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