Discover an analysis of the Israeli commando raid targeting an Iranian underground facility in Syria, revealing the strategic military implications.
The Israeli military operation in Syria targeted an Iranian underground missile production facility in Masyaf. The raid, which included ground intervention, was aimed at destroying infrastructure and gathering intelligence. The attack highlights Israel’s ability to strike underground facilities that are difficult to reach with air strikes. This type of operation could foreshadow similar actions against Iranian nuclear infrastructures in the future.
Israel strikes an Iranian underground facility in Syria
On 9 September, Israel carried out a military operation in Syria against an Iranian underground facility near Masyaf, in the north-west of the country, some 225 km from the Israeli border. The attack involved the use of Israeli special forces, in particular the Shaldag unit, which infiltrated by helicopter to recover sensitive documents before destroying the base with explosive charges. The mission also included air strikes in support of the ground operation.
The base, built in coordination with Hezbollah and Syria from 2018 onwards, was intended to produce precision-guided missiles, mainly for Hezbollah in Lebanon. Repeated Israeli air strikes on Syrian sites between 2017 and 2022 had already destroyed key infrastructure, forcing Iran to move some of its facilities deep underground.
The Israeli strike not only hit the missile production infrastructure, but also captured a large volume of intelligence on Iranian operations in Syria.
The strategic implications of the Israeli strike
The Israeli raid sent a clear message to Iran: its underground facilities are no longer beyond the reach of Israeli forces. Israel’s ability to conduct complex operations in depth could have major repercussions for regional security. Although conventional Israeli missiles are unable to reach certain deeply buried installations, the combination of ground and air operations makes it possible to overcome these limitations. This reinforces the possibility that critical infrastructure in Iran, such as the Fordow nuclear enrichment site, could also be targeted in the future.
The operation was carried out with great precision, with no Israeli casualties and a moderate human toll on the Syrian side. The raid also damaged civilian infrastructure, including electricity networks and road infrastructure near the Masyaf site. There are reports of 18 deaths and 37 injuries among the civilian population. The strikes hit key facilities at the research centre, often suspected of being involved in the development of chemical and ballistic weapons.
The need for ground operations to counter underground bases
This type of military operation highlights a major constraint for the Israeli forces: conventional air strikes, even with deep-penetration munitions such as bunker busters, are not always sufficient to destroy well-protected underground targets. Facilities buried dozens of metres underground, such as those at Masyaf, require ground intervention to place explosive charges directly into them.
Israel does not have the capacity, as the United States does, to effectively destroy these facilities by air strikes alone. This was a key factor in the decision to carry out a ground attack, despite the risks associated with inserting troops into hostile territory. This type of operation can be risky, but it has become necessary to neutralise threats that would otherwise be out of reach.
Regional implications and future prospects
This strike in Syria has major repercussions for regional players, in particular Hezbollah and Iran. While the strike has weakened Syria’s missile production capabilities, it has also signalled to Israel’s adversaries that their underground bases are no longer secure. If Israel decides to extend this type of operation inside Iran, the consequences would be significant.
Iran’s nuclear installations, some of which are deep underground, would be the main targets of a future Israeli military campaign. Israel has demonstrated that it can carry out risky missions, targeting critical installations, which could force Iran to review its strategy for protecting its military infrastructure.
The coming months will be crucial for observing the potential responses of Iran and Hezbollah, and the strategic adjustments they will adopt in the face of this new Israeli capacity to strike deep into areas hitherto considered inaccessible.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.