Israel unleashes stunning strike capabilities after Iran hits first

May 11, 2018 by Yaakov Lappin
Read on for article

In striking more than 50 Iranian military targets within 90 minutes early on Thursday morning, the Israel Defence Force displayed just a sample of its advanced, intelligence-fueled precision firepower, dealing a crushing blow to Iran’s assets in Syria…writes Yaakov Lappin/JNS.

Yaakov Lappin

This exchange of fire represents a new, stepped-up phase in the escalating Israeli-Iranian standoff in Syria.

Much of Iran’s military infrastructure in Syria was destroyed in this wave of strikes, likely leaving the Quds Force—the overseas elite Iranian unit trying to consolidate its presence in Syria—reeling.

The Quds Force has been busy in Iran, building missile and rocket bases, drone bases, importing Shi’ite militia forces and trafficking heavy weapons into the region. It had begun launching direct attacks on Israel in contrast to Iran’s older pattern of aggression, which was based on activating proxy attacks.

Most disturbingly, the Quds Force had begun initiating the next stage of Iran’s takeover of Syria. All of these efforts had one goal: to be able to use Syria as a springboard for attacking Israel.

The Iranian axis in Syria, with the help of Russian airpower, has nearly completed its victory over the Sunni rebel organizations and could now turn its attention to stage two of its Syrian project: Israel.

The Iranian leadership has made no secret of its intention to establish a grand, radical Shi’ite empire across the Middle East, stretching across Iraq, Syria and Lebanon—and beyond. These imperial ambitions threaten not only Israel, but the region’s Sunni powers, which is why these states are in full support of Israel’s self-defense measures.

Iran’s mistake was to underestimate Israel’s ability to put a stop to this plan. On Tuesday night the Quds Force, led by the charismatic and notorious Gen. Qasem Soleimani, dispatched a truck rocket-launcher towards Israel. As it drove south of Damascus, preparing to fire on Israel, it was destroyed in a missile attack.

Large quantities of munitions fired in little time

Israeli soldiers seen near the Israeli-Syrian border in the Golan Heights on May 7, 2018. Credit: Basel Awidat/Flash90

The ability to detect such a developing threat in real time—and take action—is exactly the kind of unparalleled intelligence and strike capabilities that enable Israel to be a step ahead in its conflict with Iran.

But the Iranians did not take the hint. They tried again on Wednesday night, firing 20 rockets at IDF positions on the Golan Heights. The IDF was prepared, intercepting the rockets with Iron Dome missile-defense system, and then going on the offensive in a massive wave of firepower.

Israel’s operation on Thursday, which was the largest conducted by the Israel Air Force in years, required extraordinary intelligence-gathering abilities, and in particular, the know-how to map out the various locations in which the Quds Force had taken root. This intelligence was then converted into the capability to fire guided munitions at the targets in large quantities in little time.

Several of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s air-defense batteries made the mistake of getting involved in the fight, firing surface-to-air missiles at Israeli jets. They paid a price for that decision; a good number of units were destroyed in Israeli counter-strikes.

These events ultimately mean that Iran tried to force the Jewish state to accept its presence in Syria, and the effort completely failed. Iran ended up losing more than 50 military targets, and Israel’s message to Tehran—to exit Syria immediately—received a powerful boost.

It’s too soon to know if this round of fighting has ended. But Iran is unlikely to give up on Syria so quickly. Despite the blow absorbed, the Iranians will likely make a new attempt to move into Syria, smuggling new kinds of weapons, and preparing the ground for future attacks on Israel.

The events of recent days have marked the start of a new phase in a long-term Iranian-Israeli long-term conflagration. This is a conflict, however, that began when Iran came to Israel’s borders to threaten and attack it, and not the other way around.

So far, Hezbollah has kept out of this conflict, and this is welcome news. Iran is unlikely to want to risk its proxy ensconced in Lebanon, preferring to continue pointing Hezbollah’s 120,000 rockets and missiles at the Jewish state.

Despite a remarkable display of Israeli military capabilities, this is no time to be complacent. The Iranians will be back, and the IDF must be prepared for its return.

Comments

2 Responses to “Israel unleashes stunning strike capabilities after Iran hits first”
  1. Lynne Newington says:

    Speak Your Mind

    Yesterday I had the privelige of attending the Bar Mitzvah of young boy. Surrounded by his community and the proud parents wrapping the tallit around the shoulders of their son brought to mind the significance of the presence of David Ben Gurion on behalf of the men who had lost their lives during the 6 day war.
    The recent retaliation to the strikes on the Golan Heights led Yaakov Lapin, is an echo of the poignant message given to those fatherless boys all those years ago.
    In part.

    “You are blessed with many things”.
    You are blessed because you have a country, a nation and an army devoted to your welfare and safety.
    You are blessed because you are the sons of true heroes, men who gave their lives not only that you should become Bar Mitzvah but also we should be here to observe it with you.
    Their memory is yours to treasure, ours to revere.
    May the day not be distant when all will be able to look forward to becoming the men your fathers were, in peace, in security, in the glory of the State of Israel among the nations of the earth”.

    Mozel Tov to all those past and time to come, making Bar Mitzvah and committments it entails.
    With in mind the lovely young lad yesterday of whom I had the privelige to share.

    • Lynne Newington says:

      My apology for not checking my reference before posting.
      *David Ben Gurion should read Moshe Dyan, quotation taken from Israel I. Taslitt’s well read book, The Story of General Moshe Dayan page 192.

Speak Your Mind

Comments received without a full name will not be considered
Email addresses are NEVER published! All comments are moderated. J-Wire will publish considered comments by people who provide a real name and email address. Comments that are abusive, rude, defamatory or which contain offensive language will not be published

Got something to say about this?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.