Official statements from the U.S. government or coverage by major news organizations

Israel's Shaldag Unit Raids Iranian Missile Facility in Syria, 200 km Away, Targeting Hezbollah Supply

Jan 1, 2025, 12:24 PM

Israel has officially taken responsibility for a covert commando operation conducted in September 2024, targeting an Iranian missile production facility near Masyaf, Syria. The operation, carried out by the elite Shaldag unit and forces from Unit 669 of the Israeli Air Force, aimed at the Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC) operated by the Syrian defense ministry and an underground missile production site managed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The raid was intended to disrupt the production of precision missiles, which were reportedly destined for Hezbollah. Israel had been monitoring the facility for years and informed the United States prior to the operation, which took place approximately 200 kilometers from Israeli territory. The urgency of the strike was driven by concerns over the potential for the facility to reach full production capacity, thereby increasing the threat posed by Iranian missiles.