Israeli Media Released Images of 'Iranian Forces Deployment in Syria'

Israeli media reported on Tuesday evening, April 17, with the presentation of several satellite images and a map, the 'discovery of Iran's military deployment plans, especially its aerial systems and drone units in Syria.' The release of these reports is seen as preparation and informing public opinion ahead of Israel's military confrontation with Iran's military presence in Syria. The Jerusalem Post stated that Israel is 'preparing' for direct retaliation against Iranian attacks. According to these reports, Israeli media, citing their military information, said that Iran's activities in Syria are concentrated at five airports in the country: Damascus International Airport, another military airport also located in the outskirts of Damascus, Tiyas Airbase or T-4 in Homs province, Deir ez-Zor Airport in eastern Syria, and the central airport in Aleppo province. Based on these reports, since 2015, Iran has intensified the transportation of forces and equipment to Syria, either through the IRGC's transport or under the cover of regular passenger planes, especially sending its drone experts to Syria. The Iranian civilian airlines Simorgh and Pouya have been mentioned in these military movements. The Israeli media reports, based on the assessment of their army, added that the Islamic Republic of Iran has strengthened its air and drone forces in Syria with the aim of entering into direct confrontation with Israel, and Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC, has been the main responsible for the deployment and stabilization of Iranian military forces and its allies in Syria. Zvi Yehezkeli, a commentator for Israel's Channel 10, claimed that Qassem Soleimani has been in Syria recently; however, 'because he knows he is a target for assassination, Iran no longer publicizes his presence as before.' Additionally, according to the Jerusalem Post, the Quds Force is 'planning' retaliatory attacks against Israel following the deaths of its soldiers in last week's attack in Syria. Meanwhile, according to Ynet, following last week's attack on the T-4 airbase in Homs province, which Russia attributed to Israel, the ground and air alert status in northern Israel has continued, and at the same time, 'clear and hidden warning' messages have been sent to Iran. Israeli defense ministry officials told the Jerusalem Post on Thursday that if further aggression from Syria by Iran or its allies occurs, 'the Assad regime will be finished, and he himself will be destroyed.' In the attack on the T-4 base, for which Israel did not accept responsibility, several Iranian military personnel were among the dead; media close to the IRGC reported the transfer of the bodies of at least seven soldiers to Iran, and some other Iranian media also stated that one of the dead was a colonel in the IRGC's drone unit. Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, last week, in a phone call with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, asked him not to do anything that would further destabilize Syria; however, two days after this call, Israel 'revealed' for the first time that Iran had sent its combat drone on a suicide mission from Syrian airspace to Israeli airspace on February 10. Although Israel destroyed the drone a minute and a half after it breached its airspace, in the extensive Israeli attacks in response to this incursion, an Israeli fighter jet was shot down by Syrian air defense fire in Israeli territory. Benjamin Netanyahu also, on Sunday this week, in a government meeting, a day after the tripartite attacks by the US, Britain, and France on targets in Syria, while supporting the US President's decision, stated that the fact that Syria has allowed Iran military presence has endangered Syria. Netanyahu also emphasized on Tuesday at a memorial ceremony for Israeli diplomats killed abroad that Iran, with its recent steps, has entered a new phase of activities against Israel. Amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, Iranian media reported that Mohammad Bagheri, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, in a message on the occasion of Army Day, which coincides with Wednesday, April 18, spoke of the 'unpredictability of how Iran will respond to threats.' Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to the Iranian leader, during a visit to Syria last week, in response to the attack attributed to Israel against the T-4 base, said, 'This crime will certainly not go unanswered'; Bahram Qasemi, the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, also said on Monday this week that Israel 'will receive the response to its attacks sooner or later, so that it will regret it.' Heather Nauert, the spokesperson for the US State Department, said on Monday that Washington cannot predict a direct military confrontation between Israel and Iran. Despite this, IRGC and Hezbollah media denied reports on Saturday evening this week regarding airstrikes by 'unknown' fighters on an Iranian forces base in Tal Azan, Syria; Syria also stated on Tuesday that the attacks it had reported a day earlier on the Sha'irat and Dmeir airports were not actually among them, but rather that Syria's air defense systems had 'accidentally' activated.