Syrian Army: Israel has carried out an airstrike on our base

The General Staff of the Syrian Armed Forces has reported that a military center in the country was targeted by an airstrike early Thursday morning, September 7, identifying Israel as the perpetrator of the attack and warning that this action has "dangerous consequences." The Syrian statement, which announced that two of its soldiers were killed in the attack, did not provide further details about the bombed center. However, regional media reports indicate that the bombed center was an important missile production facility that had previously been involved in chemical weapon production. The General Staff of the Syrian Armed Forces emphasized that this attack, which occurred in the early hours of dawn, caused damage to the military center in the city of Masyaf (in Hama province). Syria described this attack as "another sign" of Israel's support for ISIS and a "desperate act aimed at boosting the morale" of the terrorists of this group and other terrorists "at a time when Syria has achieved more military victories in recent days." The Syrian statement warned of what it called the "dangerous consequences" of such hostile actions for the security and stability of the region. Current Israeli military commanders or the government have not responded to the accusations from Syria, but Israeli media had been broadcasting detailed reports about the bombed target in Syria hours before the issuance of the Syrian statement, citing "Lebanese news sources" or "Syrian opposition." These reports stated that Israeli fighter jets, having entered Lebanese airspace, fired their missiles at the mentioned center from above the Bekaa Valley. Meanwhile, several former Israeli generals have commented on this attack, implicitly confirming its execution by Israel. Reserve General Gadi Shamni, a former military advisor to the Israeli Prime Minister, told the army radio early Thursday, "Israel must use everything it has to prevent Iran from solidifying its foothold in Syria any further." Reserve General Shamni suggested that "there is a level of cooperation (between Israel) with the Americans regarding such attacks, but Israel does not seek permission from the U.S." Reserve General Amos Yadlin, former head of the Israeli military intelligence agency, also wrote on his Twitter page that the attack was "not routine" because a significant military scientific center in Syria, which produced precision-guided missiles and chemical weapons, was targeted. According to the Jerusalem Post, General Yadlin wrote: "The attack aimed to convey three messages; Israel does not tolerate the strengthening and production of strategic weapons; even if global powers ignore Israel's red lines, Israel enforces these lines itself; and the third message is that the military presence of the Russian Air Force does not prevent Israeli attacks." The attack on Syria occurred while the Israeli army has been conducting "its largest military exercise in the past 19 years" in the northern parts of the country for several days; the "Nour Dagan" exercise is still ongoing. The Israeli army has emphasized that it is practicing combat operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman have stated in recent weeks that Iran has established a precision missile production facility for Hezbollah in Syria and Lebanon. Lieberman stated that Israel "will not sit idly by." Netanyahu and Lieberman have also warned about what they call the danger of "Iran's increasing military presence in Syria," and last month, the Israeli Prime Minister traveled to Russia to express Israel's position and met with Vladimir Putin. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri stated last week that Israel "knows well that there is no Iranian missile factory in Lebanon." Meanwhile, Netanyahu has stated that in his upcoming travels around the world and in his meeting with Donald Trump in the U.S. in two weeks, as well as in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, he will warn about this "danger." In this context, the United Nations states that the Syrian army has "repeatedly" used chemical weapons.