Israeli Chief of Staff: We Have Attacked Thousands of Iranian Targets in Syria

Gadi Eisenkot, the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, stated in interviews with The New York Times and two news networks that his country has attacked 'thousands' of Iranian targets in Syria since 2017, and Israel is now 'safer than four years ago.' General Eisenkot, who will soon retire, has revealed details about his country's operations in Syrian territory that Israeli media claim are being disclosed in this manner for the 'first' time. Israel has long been engaged in battles with Iranian forces and militias supported by the Islamic Republic in Syria, and an army official from that country stated last summer that 'more than 200 times' attacks had been carried out against targets mainly belonging to the Islamic Republic of Iran in Syria. Now Eisenkot says his cabinet ordered direct attacks on Iranian targets in January 2017; although Israel had been attacking convoys and targets belonging to Hezbollah since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, according to the Israeli general, Iranian forces were not directly targeted until 2017. In an interview with The New York Times, he stated that the Israeli army decided to directly attack Iranian targets after noticing 'significant changes' in the Islamic Republic's strategy in Syria: 'We noticed significant changes in Iran's strategy. Their approach was to establish extensive influence in Syria and to create a force of 100,000 Shiite militants from Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan. They established intelligence and air bases for themselves at every Syrian airbase.' Eisenkot continued that following the cabinet's authorization, 'we attacked thousands of targets without accepting responsibility or asking for acknowledgment from others.' There have been numerous reports of the Israeli army's airstrikes in various areas, including Syrian army airbases. However, in many cases, Israel has not directly claimed responsibility for the attacks, and the Syrian government has not mentioned the targeting of Iranian forces or their bases. The Islamic Republic claims it is in Syria at the request of the central government in Damascus, to fight against terrorist groups that have entered the Syrian campaign. However, Israel argues that Tehran's goal is to establish influence and create a permanent base at its borders, establishing a land route from Iran to the Mediterranean Sea. General Eisenkot told The New York Times that Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force, made a 'strategic error' by choosing Syria as a center for potential operations against Israel. This error, according to the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, occurred because Soleimani 'chose a ground for the game that he does not have much control over.' Eisenkot added that his country's army has the upper hand in Syria, both in terms of intelligence and air superiority. In part of Eisenkot's interview with The New York Times, it was mentioned that in May 2018, after severe attacks, Qassem Soleimani decided to retaliate and 'launched more than 30 missiles towards Israel,' but none reached Israel. In response, Israel launched a severe attack on dozens of Iranian military centers and Bashar al-Assad's forces. The flow of these attacks had previously been reflected in the media. In interviews with two Israeli news networks, Hadasht and Channel 10, Eisenkot also emphasized that his country is safer than four years ago but still faces many challenges. According to him, in addition to the nuclear program, the greatest concern was the creation of a new front around its borders. Questions have also been raised in the Israeli news networks regarding the 'targeting' of Qassem Soleimani. Eisenkot stated, 'Anyone who acts against us puts themselves at risk,' but added, 'I do not want to threaten anyone.' He did not provide a clear answer regarding whether a decision had been made about targeting Soleimani. This Israeli military official also told The New York Times that due to his country's extensive operations in Syria, the Islamic Republic has now shifted its focus back to Iraq. Iranian officials have denied involvement in the internal affairs of Syria and Iraq. The Iranian ambassador in Baghdad stated earlier in December that after 'declaring victory over ISIS, Iran withdrew all its military advisors' from Iraq and 'they have all returned to Iran.' Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's foreign minister, is scheduled to visit Iraq on Sunday.