The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Thursday that in recent weeks, and in view of the foreseeable fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, it has designed an intelligence plan to destroy the country's strategic weapons.
"In anticipation of the possible collapse of the Assad regime, the Israeli Air Force has prepared a comprehensive strike plan to eliminate advanced military capabilities in Syria, including strategic weapons," the military said in a statement.
According to the document, the attacks were planned between the Army and the Israeli Intelligence Directorate, which carried out a “comprehensive assessment of the internal situation in Syria” for the last few weeks.
Syria's air defense system, considered by Israel to be one of the strongest in the Middle East, was one of the main objectives of the plan.
According to the statement, the damage inflicted represents “a significant achievement” for the country.
Among the facilities attacked were the “T4” and “Ble” air bases, both located north of Damascus, which, according to the Israeli report, housed fighter squadrons, as well as a missile and rocket depot.
Likewise, Israel said it attacked weapons factories in the central Syrian city of Homs, including the main Scud missile production facility, as well as 90 percent of the country's strategic weapons.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday referred to the presence of his country's troops in the demilitarized zone in southern Syria and said that this deployment responds to Israel's security needs.
"Israel will not allow jihadist groups to fill this vacuum (in authority following the fall of al-Assad) and threaten Israeli communities in the Golan Heights with attacks in the style of 7 October," he said.
Agencies contributed to this Aurora article.