U.S. Officials: Israeli Fighters Responsible for Sunday Night Attack on Iranian Missile Depot in Syria

Two days after heavy missile attacks on two Syrian military bases in Hama and Aleppo that caused significant casualties and damage, U.S. officials stated that Israel was behind these attacks to destroy surface-to-air missiles that Iran had transferred to Syria. "Three U.S. officials" told NBC on Tuesday, April 30, that the missile strikes from Israeli F-15 fighters on Syrian army bases and the killing of over ten Iranian deployed forces is another sign that Israel and Iran have taken a clear path toward confrontation. Regional media reported that the Syrian army bases in Hama and Aleppo were heavily attacked at 10:30 PM on Sunday, April 28. The Syrian army confirmed the attacks in a statement early Monday but did not mention any casualties or damages. Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, also met with Aladdin Boroujerdi, head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament, shortly after the attacks in Damascus, stating that "enemies have resorted to direct aggression" without accusing Israel. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, whose reports are generally considered credible regarding the seven-year civil war in Syria, reported that the majority of those killed in the Sunday night attacks were Iranian deployed forces. This organization estimated the number of Iranian casualties at 18, although some reports mentioned a total death toll of up to 60. Due to the intensity of the Sunday night attacks and the heavy explosions, a minor earthquake of 2.6 magnitude occurred in Hama, and images of nearly 100% destruction of the targeted facilities and videos of the missile explosions were published in the media. However, Iranian news agencies on Monday quoted "military sources" without naming them, denying reports of Iranian or Afghan casualties from the Fatemiyoun Brigade in the Sunday night attacks in Syria. Despite this, Iranian officials remained silent. While Israel also remained silent regarding its responsibility for the Sunday night attack, "three U.S. officials" told NBC on Tuesday that Iran had recently sent more surface-to-air missile shipments to the Hama base, which were destroyed in the Israeli F-15 bombings. According to NBC, Iran has recently increased its shipments of weapons to Syria. One of the "three U.S. officials" told NBC that a war between Iran and Israel in Syria could be the most likely military conflict between the two enemy countries at this point in the world. U.S. officials also stated that Israel is seeking U.S. support and approval in dealing with Iran but sees itself as needing no authorization from the U.S. for further operations like the recent attacks in Syria. Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, in response to a question from another American network, CNN, about whether Israel is ready for war with Iran, said, "No one is interested in such a development, but it is Iran that is changing the rules of the game in the region." According to NBC, General James Mattis, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, said on Monday, hours after the new attack on Syrian army bases, that he discussed some aspects of Iran's military presence in Syria during a meeting last Thursday at the Pentagon with Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli Defense Minister. According to the U.S. Secretary of Defense, "Iranian forces and their proxy arms have come very close to Israel's borders." General Mattis also stated last week in Congress that he considers the outbreak of war between Israel and Iran in Syria likely, adding that Israel cannot sit idly by while its people are being killed. Israel stated on April 6 that Iran's action on February 10 of sending a combat drone into Israeli airspace was the most significant evidence of Iran's direct entry into confrontation with Israel. Three days after this Israeli statement, an attack on the T-4 base in Homs province occurred, in which at least seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards, including a drone unit commander, were killed. Russia, earlier than Syria, attributed the April 20 attack to Israel. According to international news agencies and statements from some Israeli officials, the Israeli army began attacking Syria in 2012, shortly after the start of the Syrian civil war. Israel and Syria had been in complete peace since the 1973 war, despite Israel's occupation of the Golan Heights, but the Syrian civil war, which opened the door for Hezbollah and other Iranian Shiite allies and then Iranian forces into Syria, raised Israel's concerns about the consequences of Iran's military presence in Syria. Israeli officials have stated that they will not repeat the mistakes of the 1980s that led to the establishment of Hezbollah in Lebanon and "will not allow, at any cost, Iran and Iran-linked arms in Syria to turn this country into another front against Israel." Zahi Hanegbi, Israel's Minister of Regional Cooperation, said on Tuesday to army radio that his country is prepared to "pay any price to end Iran's presence in Syria; even war." Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's Defense Minister, also stated on Monday that his country faces "three problems: Iran, Iran, and Iran." However, Iran continues to repeat its claim that it has a "consultative presence" in Syria based on past defense agreements and the "invitation of the legitimate government" of Damascus, but has not reacted to the new complex strategic situation in which it may lose significant military and human assets in Syria while simultaneously suffering heavy casualties among its forces and allies.