Israeli Television: Iran is Building a Missile Factory in Western Syria

An Israeli television network reported on Tuesday that Iran is constructing a missile factory in northwestern Syria. The report included "satellite images of the factory's location." Reuters reported on Tuesday, August 15, citing Israel's Channel Two, that the factory is being built near the city of Baniyas in northwestern Syria to produce long-range missiles. Baniyas is located on the Mediterranean coast. The Israeli network's report included images from an Israeli satellite indicating that "explosives are to be stored at this factory." The report compared the satellite images with images of a missile factory near Tehran, noting that "there are many similarities between the two structures." This is not the first time Israeli officials or media have reported on the construction of an Iranian arms factory in Syria. The Islamic Republic, alongside Russia, has been the largest supporter of Bashar al-Assad and has maintained an active presence in the country throughout the more than six years of its civil war. In mid-July, the Israeli Defense Minister reported on reports indicating the establishment of "secret weapons production factories for Hezbollah" in Lebanon with the help of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli Defense Minister, warned that Israel is "fully aware and will take necessary actions." Mr. Lieberman did not provide details about the "necessary actions," but since the onset of unrest in Syria and the subsequent active presence of the Islamic Republic in the country, several reports have emerged about the destruction of Iranian weapons by the Israeli or American military. For instance, a senior commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps reported in November 2016 that American forces had "completely destroyed" a ground-to-ground weapon factory that Iran had built in Aleppo, Syria. Earlier, Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, stated in a speech that Iran had established a "missile manufacturing industry for Syria" in the Aleppo region and "produced missiles" that were used in the "33-day war" against Israel. The release of the Israeli television network's report comes a week after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that following the repeated defeats of ISIS, Iran is strengthening its foothold in the region. According to Reuters, he also warned once again that Israel is monitoring the Islamic Republic's efforts in this regard and "will respond to any threats." The Israeli Prime Minister has repeatedly warned about this in recent years and has also criticized the nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA: the Israeli government's argument is that the JCPOA does not prevent Iran from developing weapons and poses a threat to Israel's existence. In contrast, the Islamic Republic has repeatedly emphasized that its nuclear activities are peaceful and considers missile and other weapon production as defensive.