3-10-2024 (BEIRUT) Israeli forces have reportedly conducted a series of airstrikes along the Syrian coastline, including areas in close proximity to Russia’s Hmeimim Airbase in western Syria. The pre-dawn attack, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, has sparked international concern and raised questions about the potential for broader conflict in the region.
According to Syrian state media and local sources, the bombardment began at approximately 3:55 AM local time and continued for nearly an hour. Reports suggest that as many as thirty missiles were launched from Israeli naval vessels, targeting military installations in Latakia province.
The city of Jableh, situated near the Russian-operated Hmeimim Airbase, appears to have borne the brunt of the assault. Eyewitnesses describe extensive damage to infrastructure, though the full extent of the destruction remains unclear. Syrian and Russian air defence systems were reportedly activated in response to the incoming projectiles, with claims that dozens of missiles were successfully intercepted.
BREAKING:
???????????????? Israel strikes a Russian weapons depot in Syria.
Israel has finally poked the Bear.
The Israeli military is targeting sites in western Syria coastal cities
Large scale airstrikes in the Syrian city of Jableh, near Russia’s Hmeimim Airbase in western Syria on… pic.twitter.com/QELX8vjzcG
— Megatron (@Megatron_ron) October 3, 2024
Of particular note is the alleged targeting of a warehouse within the Hmeimim Airbase complex. While runways and control towers at both Hmeimim and Latakia’s civilian airport were reportedly left unscathed, the attack on Russian-controlled facilities marks a significant escalation in the ongoing Syrian conflict.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the strike may have been motivated by intelligence indicating recent use of the airbase by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force to transfer weapons destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon. This aligns with Israel’s long-standing policy of preventing Iranian entrenchment in Syria and disrupting arms shipments to its proxies in the region.
The timing of the attack has raised eyebrows, with Syrian media reporting that the bombardment occurred just one hour after the landing of an Iranian “Qeshm” Airlines plane at the facility. This detail, if confirmed, could indicate a level of real-time intelligence guiding the operation.
In the aftermath of the strikes, Russian military aircraft were observed conducting patrols over Latakia, presumably to assess damage and monitor for any follow-up attacks. The Islamic Resistance, a group aligned with the Syrian government, claimed via its Telegram channel that air defence systems had been engaged for over 40 minutes, successfully downing more than 50 incoming projectiles “with the support of the Russian military”.
This latest incident comes on the heels of similar Israeli operations in Lebanon and Gaza, suggesting a coordinated campaign across multiple fronts. It also follows a reported interception of 13 Israeli missiles by Russian forces during an attempted strike on Tartus in late September, highlighting the increasing complexity of military operations in Syrian airspace.
The presence of sophisticated Russian air defence systems, including the S-400 and S-300V4, at Hmeimim Airbase has long been a deterrent against direct attacks on the facility. These systems, capable of engaging targets at ranges of up to 400 kilometres and speeds exceeding Mach 8, represent a formidable challenge to any potential aggressor.
