Tue Jan 14 14:30:24 UTC 2025: ## Israeli Commandos Destroy Iranian-Funded Missile Facility in Syria: IDF
**Jerusalem, January 3, 2025** – The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) today declassified details of a daring September 2024 raid on an Iranian-funded underground missile manufacturing facility in Syria. Codenamed “Operation Many Ways,” the mission involved 120 Israeli commandos who successfully destroyed the facility, known as “Deep Layer,” near Masyaf, a region known for its robust Syrian air defenses.
The IDF claims the Deep Layer facility, built beginning in 2017 after an earlier Israeli strike on a surface-level facility, was designed to produce precision missiles for Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Assad regime. Burrowed 70-130 meters into a mountain, the horseshoe-shaped complex housed 16 production rooms capable of churning out an estimated 100-300 missiles annually with a range of up to 300 kilometers. Its strategic location, only 200km north of the Israeli border, allowed for direct supply to Hezbollah, bypassing overland routes vulnerable to Israeli attacks.
The operation, involving elite Shaldag and Unit 669 units, followed months of meticulous planning and intelligence gathering. Four CH-53 Yasur helicopters, escorted by attack helicopters, fighter jets, drones, and reconnaissance planes, transported the commandos, utilizing a low-altitude flight path over the Mediterranean to avoid detection. Diversionary strikes further masked their approach.
Upon landing near the facility, commandos breached the heavily fortified entrances using specialized equipment, including forklifts, and planted approximately 660 pounds of explosives targeting key machinery. The resulting detonation, described as causing a mini-earthquake, crippled the facility. The IDF claims approximately 30 Syrian guards and soldiers were killed during the operation, while Syrian media reported 14 fatalities and 43 injuries. The entire operation was completed in under three hours, with no Israeli casualties. The IDF released video footage of the operation on social media.
The raid comes amidst heightened regional tensions following the October 2023 multi-front conflict involving Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iran-backed groups, underscoring Israel’s determination to counter Iran’s regional influence.
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